Around the turn of the century, I was living in an intentional community in Bloomington, Indiana, on the outskirts of Hoosier National Forest. A dear friend and community member had recently ended a relationship.

She had shared a reflection that she experienced that morning while sitting outside watching the sunrise: “Michael, throughout my life, most of my relationships have felt like roller coasters. Lots of excitement, passion, drama, and big ups and downs. My most recent relationship felt more like a merry-go-round. Steady, simple, and predictable. There was no drama, no screaming, and unfortunately, no passion or excitement. I feel like I’ve grown enough that it’s time for me to be in a relationship that’s more like a Ferris Wheel than a roller coaster or a merry-go-round.”

We spent time discussing our thoughts and definitions of what kind of amusement park ride best describes our relationship histories. Along with having very different definitions, we both expressed a desire moving forward; our relationships have enough passion and excitement to keep things alive but enough predictability and stability that it feels safe and grounded. We both landed on wanting relationships more like a Ferris Wheel.

This is an excerpt. Please view the full post on Medium.

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Michael Swerdloff

Providence Holistic Counselor, Coach and Reiki