An Over-Used Metaphor: The Roller Coaster of Life

The metaphor has been used billions of time: "Life is like a roller coaster, it has ups and downs, low points and high points, etc.", but it is interesting how this same metaphor can be used in much more specific aspects when thinking over life concepts. It is pretty neat how the way to describe something can be revealed to you in the idea and psychology of a theme park ride.

For me, roller coasters have not always been 'okay', I used to be mortified and would not ride a single one. I have finally gotten over that fear and will ride NEARLY all of them. There are certain 'hills' I just cannot seem to get myself over. The slight fear of heights and uncomfortable feeling of going uphill may do the trick. The thoughts going through one's head throughout the entire ride do a good job of putting into perspective the idea of fear.

 For me, the long line leading up to a ride I have not ridden in a while or at all begins to psych me out, but I feel comfortable because you can back out at any point, you are still in control. Sure you might get laughed at for chickening out, but you are not at the mercy of the coaster just yet. The closer you get the more nervous you get due to the closing window of escape, yet that window seems more and more tempting. Once you have entered the station and sit down in the car, buckle the seat belt and wait to be slowly dragged up the treacherous chain hill you are at the point of no return and that is when fear hits a high point. I become on edge, I require that my riding partner talks to me the entire way up the hill to distract me from my increasing fear and discomfort. Once the hill is over and the train is sent plummeting towards the earth and twisted and flipped every direction I am able to fully enjoy the ride and adrenaline rush that comes along.

I would consider myself a mental and emotional claustrophobic, I need to always have an escape route or plan b. I need to feel in control of myself and the situation at hand. That, not only on rides, but in life is what psychs me out. Conquering fear takes getting over that first hill. It may be good for some to just get over all fear at once and do it, but I have found that slowly testing my tolerance levels have been a better method of enjoying rides. Some hills I am just not ready to get over yet, and it is the same way in life. I am just not ready to get over some of those fears yet, I have tried and will continue to test tolerance levels and inch towards buckling down and sticking it out for adrenaline and excitement hiding behind that tormenting, steep, stressful, hill.