Riding Rollercoasters With My Niece

I took my niece to Carowinds for her birthday. It was her first time to ride the big roller coasters. I advised her to start with the biggest, scariest one first and then nothing else would seem hard after that. So that’s what we did. The steepest rollercoaster with the biggest drop and she didn’t even close her eyes. She did have to keep reminding herself that we were still on the track because she couldn’t see it anymore. I found this significant. How often do we feel like we are flying off of the track, no longer grounded or safe? And when that happens, do you feel thrilled to be alive or panic-stricken? Do you trust that you are still connected to the track for your life?

As we moved from rollercoaster to rollercoaster, we could easily compare which ones gave us the smoothest rides and which ones gave us the most excitement. All of them had something uniquely interesting, although some I only desired to ride once. Our favorite was the one that was a combination of smoothness and hidden turns with weightless dips. Because isn’t that most often what we desire in life? We don’t want to be bumped around too much but we do want some surprises to keep life interesting.

Maybe it is time to examine how you ride rollercoasters. What is it like when you come to a hill? We all have plenty of those in life. Are you coasting through life right now, just enjoying the ride? Or are you gripping the handles, eyes squeezed shut, while whispering a prayer? Maybe it helps to know who you are riding with. I found that even sitting next to a stranger, we could bond on a 1 minute ride. When my energy shifts to focus on the person next to me, my anxious thoughts can disappear. What are your strategies for getting through those scary moments and jolting surprises?

Wherever you are in the rollercoaster of your life, I would love to companion you. Whether it is the slow climb up the hill, the steep drop where it feels like nothing is under you, or the winding twists along the way. E-mail me to schedule your free consultative call.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for people to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences and learnings with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.