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            The Vortex. The Viper. California Screamin'. Expedition Everest. The Boomerang. Thunder Mountain. Ninja. These are just some of the jaw-dropping, spine-tingling, heart-stopping roller coasters my husband has dragged me on while on various vacations over the years. He researches theme parks with the biggest thrill rides and builds the vacation itinerary to incorporate as many stomach churning attractions as possible. We have been flipped, spun, twisted, flung, whirled and twirled. As this is happening he is the very picture of carefree adventure. His smiling face is the kind you see on the theme park brochures. Meanwhile….my knuckles are white from gripping the safety bars, my shoulders are up around my ear lobes, my mouth is contorted into unidentifiable shapes, and my eyes are shut so tightly my eyelids disappear. Countless times he has told me to open my eyes and take a look at the incredible views that come with being at the top of the world.           

            I am an obedient rider. I double and triple-check my safety bars, I keep my hands inside the ride at all times, I remove dangling jewelry and I ensure my belongings are securely stored in the proper compartment. I always followed the directions, but I never enjoyed the ride--until one summer day several years ago in southern California.

            I climbed into the coaster called Ghost Rider and as we were getting strapped in I realized I couldn't see past the shoulder bar to the seat on my right where my 10-year old daughter was sitting. As the ride took off I let out a series of screams and it struck me that I wasn't hearing any noise from the rider next to me. Was my girl okay? Was she still sitting safely in her seat? I hushed the noise coming from my mouth and listened intently when I heard a wonderful sound--a giggle of absolute delight. My daughter was having a wonderful time. Like father like daughter. And I couldn't help but start to laugh too and then I realized--I was having fun.

            Sometimes we may feel like our lives are hurtling by like an out of control roller coaster. We experience dips and drops and ups and downs and we can't always see the twists and turns that come up unexpectedly. But it also makes for quite a ride.

            The first thing we need to remember is that it is more fun to get on the ride than to stand by and watch. It may be easier to sit back, to disengage, or just observe from a distance but just think of the sights you'd never see and the sounds you'd never hear. So step into your life, grab hold and get ready for anything.

            Life is a whole lot more fun when you experience it with someone you love. The people sitting beside you may change over time and that can be painful, but always be open to the new people who may be waiting to join the ride. They will make the spills easier to take and the thrills that much more exciting.

            There are rules that need to be followed but the purpose of life's rules are not to frustrate or frighten but to provide sense, safety and security. They provide the structure from within which we can experience everything freely and fully. So buckle up and enjoy the ride.

            We learn a lot more when we are quiet. If we do all the talking we are missing out on the wisdom, the experience and the humor of others. Listen. You just might find yourself smiling and laughing a whole lot more.

            And no matter what, try as hard as you can to keep your eyes open. We want to shut them to pain and misery and to those things that cause us hurt and sadness but in doing so we may also be missing out on spectacular sights and unexpected beauty that just might be right around the next curve.         

            Yes our time on this earth can leave us with clammy hands, white knuckles, weak knees, upset stomachs and throbbing headaches. But along with that comes hands that intertwine with the fingers of ones we love, knuckles that announce our arrival at a friend's front door, knees that take us into unforgettable places, stomachs that experience flavors and fullness, and heads that are a storehouse of all that is, and all that is yet to be. So climb in, take a good look around and enjoy the ride of your life. That's my outlook.