Aversion & saying yes to it anyway

I've never been an amusement park person. Roller coasters make my stomach in knots and I'd rather hit other rides, like biking, than twisting my way through a loop de loop, and then stuck buying $12 soft pretzels. 

But this past fall, friends from my time living in Colombia, shared they were coming up to Orlando, Florida and I decided that I'd hop on a plane and visit them and a theme park for a day last month.

This meant saying yes to a lot of things I normally would say no to: multiple roller coasters, long lines, crowded buses, chain restaurants and being surrounded by people dressed up as Super Mario. 

But I decided that perhaps the point wasn't what I was saying yes to (the roller coasters, long lines, crowded buses, chain restaurants and being surrounded by people dressed up as Super Mario). Perhaps the point was saying yes to friendship and nourishing a relationship that even with distance is over a decade strong. 

And so, I put aside the voice that normally I would balk: “NOOOOO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I DO NOT DO AMUSEMENT PARKS” And went all in on, "Yes, let's!"

I “yes, let’s” a lot:

Yes, let's run through the smoke as we wait in line to go on a simulation ride through Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic. Yes, let's scream on the coaster and laugh at the absurdity of it all. Yes, let's get another order of biscuits and enjoy their fluffiness. 

On the other side of my 34 hour visit, I didn't become a season pass holder of an amusement park, but I did realize:

• a roller coaster can be fun and thrilling!

• waiting in line with friends can be a wonderful mindful moment and time to catch up

• perhaps by saying yes to someone else's ideal fun, I'd discover that fun and connection can come in surprising places, even from things I'd vowed to stay away from.  

• I can still be myself and affirm my needs, even when doing something that’s outside of my identity (“I’m not a theme park person.”).

• perhaps I need to change the perception of my own identity! (“With the right person and an open minded attitude, I can have a great day at a theme park”)

There are 11 more months in the year, which for me means a whole lot more to ride and carry from this experience. What if rather than being so stuck in saying no to what I’ve made up my mind of what I’m averse to, there might be some moment of grey where I’d actually say “yes, lets!”

• What might happen if you said yes to nourishing a relationship by shifting gears and saying “Yes, let’s! to what that person's idea of fun and connection looks like?

• How might you learn something new about yourself, but putting aside your aversion for a day and trying out a new possibility? 

Wheels up, 

Ellen