I used to feel like my life existed as as a roller-coaster ride. Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, I would start on the climb up only to quickly find that I was looking at a deep abyss down, and then a tortuously slowly climb back up to another drop. Changes and choices evened out my roller coaster to a simple merry-go-round. That may seem chaotic to you still, but truly a merry-go-round was one of my favorite playground toys as a kid. I remember standing on it while someone else pushed, hanging on for dear life, head thrown back, long hair flying, feeling like I was soaring. But I remember too, the times I pushed that metal death trap around by myself for others to ride. It still seemed just as fun, pumping my legs as hard as I could, head down looking at each step as I sent my playground mates reeling on a joyful ride round and round. It always worked out so well, until someone decided to bolt off, landing in a pile of sand and scrapes, tears falling, moms running to check on the catapulted child. I look at that now and see the same thing in this life. Sometimes you just have to stay on the merry-go-round until it slows down enough for you to push the darn thing yourself. But just remember- if you are always the one on the ground, you never get the ecstasy of the ride!