A Day of Firsts, Roller Coasters, and Motivation!

Would you believe it if I said I had never ridden a roller-coaster before in my life? It’s true! I hadn't until recently, but on Friday, I DID IT!

As a kid I remembering being so scared to ride one but once I finally mustered up the determination during my teenage years, I was already too big. However, I am no stranger to amusement parks. Each year my life somehow managed to produce the opportunity to visit one, either with my church group or on a school trip. I became really good at keeping the bags safe and dry, and finding the water park in order to camp out there under the shade, all day!

During my senior year of high school, I lost roughly 90 lbs. I was so excited for that summer’s annual mission’s trip to Atlanta because at the end of the week we would get to spend the day at Six Flags over Georgia. This year I hoped to fit, but like many times before, it did not work out. Well, bless the heart of the roller coaster attendant because he worked devilishly hard to fasten me into the seat on the Superman roller-coaster. He was successful at fastening all but one of the bars needed to hold me in place, it happened to be the main bar that holds you in your seat when the ride brings you parallel with the ground and takes off. I remember pleading with him to push harder, I was willing to take the pain and discomfort, or just let me hold the bar in place so I could still go on the ride (obviously an inexperienced roller coaster-rider argument to make). Sensing that I needed to exit the ride because I was now delaying it, I remember thinking to myself, “I appreciate all your trouble bro, but that’s okay! I know my place and it’s with the bags. The skinny kids need to have fun now.” So, I slumped back down the platform to wait with our bags for everyone else to finish.

Ever since I started losing weight, my old roommate, Jeff Brown and I have been making plans to ride roller coasters together when we were both thin enough. A few months ago, he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and those plans were altered. Last Friday, October 10th, 2014, with Jeff in my thoughts and knowing he was there in spirit with me, I rode the first roller coaster of my life and I loved it!!! Each corkscrew, each loop, and each blood curdling scream (issued by yours truly) made me enjoy the experience even more and to add to the experience, I had three great friends willing to ride with me. After the first, I proceeded to ride two other roller coasters for a grand total of five rides before the rain came forcing me to make the dash to my car. I cannot wait until my next opportunity to ride roller coasters!!! Next time, I shall try the old wooden one to see how horrible that feels. Anyways, I had the opportunity to do something amazing, like ride a roller coaster for the first time. Even though it was just an amusement park, it represented something so much more to me. It proved that hard work pays off. And, it goes to show that choosing to live an extraordinary life, though painful, will give you opportunities you never before thought were possible. So cheers to the small things in life that make all the difference; the seemingly insignificant moments that prove to be the greatest motivators!

Joshua "Bubba" Wade

No Fluff. All Buff.

Fitness. Wellness. Lifestyle.