On the Merry-Go-Round of Life

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies. ~ Nadine Stair

I have always tried to live my life without a whole lot of regrets. That is why I rode a merry-go-round tonight, not once but twice. The Carousel here in Port Dalhousie is a century old and only five cents a ride. The kids love it but so do I. I also tend to go barefoot more than I should and stay that way as long as I can. I don’t really pick more daisies but I do like to breathe them in more often.

Life can be a merry-go-round for sure. Lots of ups and downs and yet one can still have a desire to do it all over again, even when it makes you

dizzy. I am enjoying my time here in the Toronto area. I am looking forward to tomorrow and sharing my birthday celebration with Rebecca. The day at the park ended with a beautiful sunset that looked a little purple.

I have been thinking about the movie I saw on the plane ride here: Soul Surfer. It is really an inspiring film based on a true story about a girl who loves to surf and is preparing for a major competition. During a morning practice, a shark bites off her arm. She survives much against the odds and returns to surfing again eventually but not before she learns some valuable life lessons. I cried buckets of tears watching it, and did not care for a minute who saw me. Well, ok, maybe I was secretly hoping that the flight attendants would not get to me with a drink order until I had recomposed myself. It is a film with strong Christian overtones, and the horrible incident is foreshadowed by an opening scene where the words to a Newsboys song are repeated during a worship service, “You give and take away, You give and take away; But my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name…” I highly recommend the film to those of you who need to be inspired, who need to find courage, and who desire to get on with life after a significant loss.

Oftentimes, in the ups and downs of life, we do not choose the downs. We can make the difficult choice of getting back on the horse though and enjoying the ride despite it all. My time here is reminding me of both the ups and downs of life and I am ever-grateful to a friend who has shared the ride. Neither one of us chooses to live in the regrets of what life has thrown at us, but we did choose to go on the carousel several times tonight. That is how I prefer to live my life.

Peace,

Suzanne