Spring is Here!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think laughter is fear’s kryptonite.

This past weekend I was invited to go roller skating with friends and to celebrate a friend’s birthday. As I consulted my cordless abacus I realized the last time I had been on roller skates was when I was 10 years old meaning 31 years had passed since I had been on roller skates. That's almost as long as my last post on this blog.

I had been invited a week ahead of time and I started to hear my fear voice saying hmmm maybe not a good idea Erik, you might break something.... hmm what is your deductible on your health insurance? Hmmm how long does a broken bone take to heal on a 41 year old Viking? I don't think that little voice was ever present when I was 10. I am glad to say that I did not listen to my fear voice I still went. In hindsight it might have been helpful if I had packed a little bit of grace and ease to come along with me to the roller rink neither of those words could be used to describe my over all performance. Let's just say I made a real impression on the floor....witnesses might have said I had a intimate relationship with the floor. I noticed that fewer and fewer people were getting on the rink I told myself it was the music of such bands as “Lover boy” Foreigner” and “Toto” but deep down I knew it was because my presence and unique style that was better experienced from afar .

Symbolically I believe each fall, wipeout, yard sale; crash represented each year that I had not been on skates. Basically I relived a good part of my youth all over again. Grounded is a word that comes to mind. Motrin is another. It really sucks to fall. It really sucks to fall in front of others. Ironically I laughed each time I fell which I believe allowed me to be very present which translated in a great time. How I wish I could have laughed more in my youth about the things I did not do well in front of others.

I had so much fun that night and as for my fear voice of falling down it seemed to go away as soon as I started to laugh. How truly wonderful it is to be able to laugh at yourself especially when doing something that you might not be great at. I know my ego does not fully agree so I think I will send him on a vacation to the Delusion Islands.

I find it fascinating that my fear voice can stop me from really experiencing joy in my life. I intend to be more present for those times when it potentially robs me of great experiences.

Do you have a fear voice? Do you allow that voice to be loud in your life? Can you send it on vacation? When do you notice when your fear voice shows up? Are there anything’s you have not done since you were 10 that sound like fun but might be afraid to do?

I look forward to writing again in this blog I realized I have missed it and while I don't miss the roller rink floor I do miss laughing with such abandonment and the best part was it was at my own expense.

Look beyond the obvious you may see something you never knew before.