Showing up every day isn’t enough.  It’s about showing up with everything you got! –James Caan

Funland, in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware, has been entertaining kids (both young and old!) for generations.  Tradition.  Thrills.  And just good old-fashioned family fun.  It’s a “must stop” every year, even if it just means rolling a few rounds of Skee Ball!

But this year’s trip to Funland was even more special.  My youngest daughter was with me (as usual!) but, in a serendipitous turn of events, my brother was able to join us as well.  After crushing the Haunted House, and sinking a few long range hoops, we headed over to the crown jewel of Funland: The Sea Dragon!

The Sea Dragon is a giant wooden ship that catapults you at alarming speeds back and forth on a pendulum.  While the middle part of the boat is entertaining, the true terror comes on the last row at both ends of the ship.  In the extremes, the riders practically turn upside down as they hold on for dear life!

As we approached the ride, we noticed there was a huge line to sit on the “end” seats, but no line to ride in the middle.  Despite the wait, it was a no-brainer decision.  If we were going to go in, we were going to go ALL the way in!  The line moved quickly and soon we were securely situated in the best seat in the house.  And the Sea Dragon did NOT disappoint.  We screamed.  We laughed.  We had an absolute blast and made simple but powerful memories for a life time.  And we learned a valuable lesson along the way.

We may only get one one shot at something.  We can’t settle for the middle.  It’s not enough to go through the motions and participate.  Whatever it is, we have to get the most out of the ride!

Make the Ride Count

Life is not just about standing in line and punching our tickets.  We can get so wrapped up in showing up that we forget to make the most our moment in the sun.  A dream job.  A special relationship.  Running our own company. Raising a family.  Making a championship run.  These opportunities should not be taken for granted.  Even if they do come to fruition once, we may never get a second chance.  So how are we going to approach the ride?

Do we follow a paint-by-numbers script or stamp our own unique flair on our position?  Do we go above and beyond to show how much we care or respond only when asked?  Do we approach each challenge with gusto or try to avoid conflict?  Do we savor each moment and leave it all on the field or pray for the spotlight to pass us by?  The ride can get intense.  Sometimes, it may feel like we will fall out or get turned upside down.  But we have already bought our tickets.  We might as well maximize the joy of the opportunities in front of us!

Confidence Breeds Resilience

But not all rides result in a thrilling experience with an incredible shot of adrenaline.  What happens if we express how much we care but get nothing in return?  What happens if we embrace the spotlight, but get burned on our execution?  What happens if we pour our heart and soul into our purpose but the ride fizzles out?  We have to understand that there are no guarantees in life.  It doesn’t always go our way.  And that is okay.

If we recognize the big moments and maximize our opportunities, that is enough to give us the confidence to keep getting back in line.  Resilience stems from that peace of mind.  Even if it doesn’t work out, we know that we didn’t take shortcuts.  We know that we gave it that extra effort.  We learn from our mistakes and jump right back on the end of the boat!

Take the End Seats

If we are still breathing, we have a shot at this ride.  The tickets have already been purchased.  But how are we going to approach it?  We weren’t given talents and then expected to play small.  We can’t just follow the crowd and sit in the middle.  The real thrill, the real satisfaction and the incredible adrenaline of blazing our own trail comes at the end of the ship.  It’s worth the wait.  It’s worth the scary disorientation and the moments of fear.  It’s worth the extra effort to make sure we do it right.

We have to get the most out of this crazy ride of life.