Do You Like Roller Coasters or Merry-Go-Rounds?

May 07, 2010

I was watching the last 25 minutes of the movie Parenthood.  I have seen it multiple times but something in particular struck home with me.  The elderly grandma talked about how much she loved roller coasters....the ups and downs, the entire body experience (your stomach up in your throat) and how much fun they are.  She then talked about some people like merry-go-rounds but she didn't because she loved the roller coaster.  Sounds like it could just be an elderly lady blabbing but not so and it certainly was meaningful for me.

I do love roller coasters.  I also love the metaphor of roller coasters and merry-go-rounds in the WLS journey and life in general.  I must admit that I find merry-go-rounds boring.  I rode them with my sons when they were little guys so that was fun, however, to pick a ride between the two - a roller coaster for me!

I have also been on a roller coaster as a WLS post-op.  There have been some amazing highs - I was the post-op that was featured in a WLS program marketing campaign....complete with filming television commercials, print ads and a professional photo shoot (complete highs), completing a breast cancer walk of 60 miles in 3 days and many, many more.  I've also experienced some real lows....coming face to face with a reality in my life that, in the extremely painful process, gained back 31 pounds and then having to lose those VERY slowly, struggling to get back on track with lots of attempts...brief successes. 

I learned that once I dealt with the real things that caused me to have an unhealthy relationship with food, the weight took care of itself.  Since then, although I have my low points, they aren't as low and the highs are higher.  Yea, it has taken me almost 9 years, but I've finally got the answers FOR ME that my WLS journey is still a roller coaster but with fewer lows and mostly nice highs.

Life is the same.  Once I figured out the reasons why I turned to food in the first place, dealt with it, my life is richer and deeper.  Sure, there are lows but they are manageable.  The highs are great and much more fun and meaningful.  A merry-go-round mode for my life would just be living a status quo.....no meaningful experiences, no fulfilling relationships and friendships, it would be just the same old, same old.....b-o-r-i-n-g.  When I say highs/lows, I'm not talking about drama, I am talking about a rich, meaningful mode of life.  The highs can be anything from reaching a physical success such as completing an intense workout, an emotional one of my teenage son telling his friends that his mom is awesome, watching and listening to the birds singing in my backyard....whatever!

Even if you don't like roller coasters as a ride, that's okay.  Live the richness, meaningful highs and learn from your low's so your ride is a full one that fills your heart!!  Woo Hoo!! 

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