I spend a lot of time being afraid. (It's a disorder.)
To my credit, I spend about an equal amount of time trying not to be afraid.
This means, using the above photo as an illustration, I've developed a lot of habits and strategies designed to make me feel less like the terrified pair in the first row, and more like the chill sista in the second row: "Yeah, baby," I imagine her saying to her small companion, "it's just a roller coaster."
I'm reminded of that part in the fantastic 80s movie Parenthood when Steve Martin is feeling terribly exposed and yanked around by life's events, and his wife (played by Mary Steenburgen) compares life to a roller coaster, explaining that the ups and downs are the whole point, and the trick is to learn to enjoy the ride.
Returning to the photo: I do hope some day to become so acclimated to life's permutations that I'll relate most strongly to the back rows of white folks who have their hands thrown recklessly in the air. "Whooo-hoooo!" we'll be hollering together on that day.
Photo credit: thingsyoucantdocokedup.tumbler.com
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