“You can do it! You can do it,” they cheer. But can I?
Most people don’t even give it a thought. It’s automatic. If it means having fun, they are all for it. Really, who wouldn’t want the chance to be carefree and happy? Enter me…
It’s me verses the mountain. I peer over the edge and shivers run through me. Little goosebumps appear up and down my arms. Inside, my stomach is having a country line dancing party. It’s a boot scooting boogey time. My heart says, “go for it.” Equally as loud, my brain screams, “not on our life.” My heart battling my brain, emotion fighting logic. I am a tense mess. Then it happened.
My foot, once friends and at peace with the ground, was being pulled down. My teammates made the decision for me. I was going to be carefree even if they literally had to drag me into it. Some of the team got together and pushed me down the hill, while others continued pulling at my feet. “Go, Ami!” they cheered. My once white pants now had grass stains and dirt smeared on them. My baseball hat flew off and landed a third of the way down. Finally, I reached the bottom and sat in awe.
I survived. I didn’t crack and I didn’t break. Unexpectedly, a smile and laughter burst forth. For the first time, in maybe forever, I was kooky and carefree. It was uplifting and joyous. It was both strange and heartwarming at the same time. Truth be told, the mountain was a little hill. The rest is true though. My dear friends did more than pull me down a hill that day. They got me out of my comfort zone and taught me that it is ok to have fun, just for the sake of having fun.
