Let’s face it—life can be a bit of a rollercoaster. We all have those moments where things just don’t go our way, and it’s easy to get stuck in the unfairness of it all. But here’s the thing: how we react to these bumps in the road can make all the difference. We can either sit and sulk, or we can pick ourselves up, dust off, and keep going with a bit more grit and determination.
A Day at the Waterpark: Where Plans Went South
On Saturday, I took my daughter Alexis to a waterpark for her friend’s 13th birthday party. It was her first time at a big waterpark, and she was a mix of nervous and excited. Alexis isn’t exactly a fan of giant roller coasters, so she was relieved that her friends were on the same page. They all stuck to the tamer rides, and before I knew it, Alexis had ditched me to hang out with her crew. I didn’t mind—I was just happy to see her having fun.
As lunchtime rolled around, one of the big rides finally opened up, and the girls were pumped. They all got in line while I went off to grab lunch. I was actually pretty surprised Alexis went for it without hesitating—this ride was no joke. As time ticked by, I started to wonder what was taking so long. Forty-five minutes passed, then another thirty, and still no sign of the girls.
I decided to check out what was going on. When I got to the ride, I realized the line wasn’t moving much at all. After climbing a long set of stairs, I found Alexis and her friends at the front of the line, looking frustrated and starving. Turns out, the ride had broken down just as they were about to hop on. They had been waiting in line for 90 minutes, and the conveyor belt that brought the floaties up for the ride had just quit. The ride was closed, and that was that.
Bouncing Back: How the Girls Turned Things Around
Now, this could’ve been a total day-ruiner. Alexis was pretty bummed, saying, “I was so ready, but then
the ride broke.” Honestly, I felt her disappointment. But instead of letting it ruin their day, the girls quickly bounced back. We grabbed some food, they ate like they hadn’t seen food in days, and just like that, they were back to having fun. They hit up the lazy river, then went on another ride that had a 45-minute wait, but they didn’t complain—they were all smiles, just enjoying their time at the park.
Seeing how quickly they moved on from the disappointment was a bit of a wake-up call. They could’ve sulked, and no one would’ve blamed them. But instead, they chose to let it go and focus on the fun ahead. It’s a simple, yet powerful reminder that we can learn a lot from how kids handle setbacks.
Takeaway: What We Can Learn from Our Kids
Life can throw some pretty unfair stuff our way, and it’s easy to let those moments drag us down. A lot of adults end up stuck in a cycle of disappointment, dwelling on what went wrong instead of enjoying what’s right in front of them. But what if we took a cue from our kids?
If we could move past our disappointments as quickly as they do, we’d be a lot better off. Whether it’s something at work, in our personal lives, or just a random hiccup in our day, we don’t have to let it ruin everything. By letting go and moving on, we make room for the good stuff—like enjoying the present and looking forward to what’s next.
Moral of the story: Keep Rolling with the Punches
That day at the waterpark taught me something I hope Alexis and her friends remember as they grow up—and something we adults could definitely use a reminder of, too. Life’s unfair moments are inevitable, but they don’t have to ruin our day, week, or month. It’s how we choose to react that makes the difference. So the next time life throws you a curveball, think about those girls at the waterpark—shake it off, move on, and keep enjoying the ride.
Your comments: How long do you dwell on something that happened that was unfair? Can you cut that time in half? I look forward to your comments and questions.
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Lei