We've all heard. Life is like a rollercoaster. There are drops and spins and unanticipated turns. There are forks in the roads and hidden jerks. There are times when your hair flies in the correct directions. Other times, you are going so fast you are blinded by the sun and the stars or by the hands you are putting in front of your eyes because you don't want to see the next fall. 

My husband and I headed to Kennywood where we determined we have not been for probably about 8 to 10 years. Back to our marching band days, it certainly brought back memories of those sweaty wool uniforms and the chaperones in gold hanging out by the pavilion, the funnel cake and the rides for days and standing near the tunnel ready to "step off" for that nighttime parade. And though we were in the band together, we have officially never ridden together, at any park. So we though it was time to do so. What better way to spend a 95 degree day!

We rode every single roller coaster in the park today, and I couldn't help but smile because everytime we stood in line, I expressed my anxiety of going "on that ride." My husband looked at me and said, "You know...I never knew you were actually scared of the rides." I said, "Well...I do like the experience once I'm on. But admittingly yes. If you were not standing right here, I would probably choose not to go on half of these rides." The anticipation really gets to my soul. It could be why today was probably one of the very first times I actually decided to open my eyes during the adventure (generally, I close my eyes because I don't want to see what is coming next.) 

I had to laugh because though both of us were riding the same rollercoaster, we were having a completely different experience. My eyes were half closed half open and my husband kept his eyes open the entire time yelling at the next hill or giving me a heads up as to what was coming up next. He was almost like my life guide today. And I think all of have those. Those individuals who push us out of our comfort zone but give us support and stability at every hill or sudden turn or jerk or drop. They become our eyes when we cannot or choose not to see. They become our ears as they break our own anxieties with laughter and funny comments. We see their own confidence, and we just know that we can be just as confident and bold and brave and brace those turns and falls with the same laughter. 

So don't be too hard on yourself if you are in need of a life-guide sometimes. Believe me, those steep falls are much more enjoyable when someone else can get you to see them with greater joy-greater than you ever thought possible. Life truly is a rollercoaster. When you find yourself on an actual roller coaster-think about similar life is. Think about those moments you have fallen and realize there is an uphill with every downhill, think about how it feels sometimes to be flipped upside down and then realize that sometimes where you are headed next is much more fun in a new position and then realize that though life sometimes speeds by from 0 to 50 mph in just a few seconds, there is always a time to slow down as well-with every rushed entrance, there is always some kind of smooth exit-even if we fail to see it at first with our half closed half open eyes.