I was talking with some of my close friends the other day, and the phrase “Life is like a rollercoaster; it has its ups and downs,” was brought up. I pondered this for a second, and while I do suppose this statement is true, I also want to address the fact that this perspective overlooks SO MANY things. If life just had its ups and downs, that would make it like a staircase, or elevator. In addition to the “ups and downs” of the rollercoaster, you also have: a unique seat to pick from for the duration of your ride, upside-downs, loop-de-loops, inverted helices, double helices, corkscrews, horseshoes, inline twists, hammerhead turns, zero-gravity rolls, and launch tracks. There’s also countless types and variations of roller coasters—wood coasters, steel coasters, water coasters, standing coasters, coasters where your feet hang, and coasters where the carts race each other. There are different purposes to each roller coaster as well; they don’t all focus on the same thing. The Top-Thrill Dragster is only around 16 seconds long, yet it is one of the craziest experiences and it doesn’t even have any loop-de-loops or corkscrews. The Millennium Force is another legendary one, but it doesn’t launch you to your vertical doom in a rapid fashion like the Dragster. Every coaster is unique, just like every life is.
The journey that leads to the “ups,” on a rollercoaster can sometimes be monotonous and drag on as it can take a long time to get to the top. But once you’re there, you can see for hundreds of miles and are practically in the heavens. You’re welcomed with the serenity of the calm, lively blue waters on your left side and what looks like an orange and red garden of evolving leaves on your right. You slowly intake all this excessive stimulation as you’re welcomed with fresh air and smells of Mother Nature–but you can only focus on these for a second. Before you know it, you’re peaking over that hill and all that oxygen is quickly shot up your nostrils and down your mouth as your jaw drops at the anticipation of what you’re about to withstand. This overwhelming-ness is further reinforced as the wind booms throughout your ear drums, drowning out the exhilarating sounds of others experiencing these sensations. You briefly forget everything you’ve once come to know and learn as the butterflies take control of your body and dopamine surges your brain in this 20 second uproar. This might not necessarily be the “best” part of the ride for everyone since riders have different preferences, but it definitely screams novelty; your hard work will pay off.
Next, when a rollercoaster has its “downs” it doesn’t just give up and stop; it uses its momentum of the downfall to propel it back up and keep the wild ride going. The downs are what leads to the possibilities of the loop-de-loops, zero-gravity rolls, novel twists and turns, and is ultimately what will allow you to come full circle. These aren’t as unenjoyable as they can sometimes seem either; you still get to experience almost EVERY SINGLE THING described in the last paragraph, the dips only last briefly, and before you know it you’re back in acquaintance with everything you once knew and loved.
In sum, it’s not just about the “ups and downs,” on a roller coaster (or in life) but more so the unique purposes they offer in different scenarios, the new connections they lead to, the senses you have to experience them, and how they work into the overall thrill of life. So pick a seat, buckle in, and get ready for the time of your life. Oh, I forgot to mention there’s a camera right before the end of the ride too, so don’t forget to smile in the midst of all the chaos.
