Step onto the Ferris Wheel

Many years ago (nearly thirty to be precise!) I ventured onto the Ferris wheel at Blackpool. At the time I was in a relationship (thankfully now over) with someone who thought it would be great fun to rock the chair and scare me out of my wits.

I came off the ride, shaken and upset, he couldn’t understand why, a shining example of why I shouldn’t have been with him, I would put it down to youth, but he was indeed like me in his thirties! Since that day I have never ventured on a big wheel again although over the years I have longingly looked at them on many a beach front but never felt able to take that step out of my comfort zone and into the seat.

The whole Blackpool experience left me nervous, scared and feeling sick at even the thought of being at the top of the wheel even though I wanted to do it, to experience the views from the top and to feel exhilarated at looking out over the horizon wondering what lay beyond.

Fast forward to August 2022 and I found myself now at Weston Super Mare, again staring into the sky at the top of Ferris wheel with the same longing however this time I decided to make a change. Turning to my now partner (soon to be husband) I felt secure enough to suggest a ride to the top. In all honesty I did deliberate for a short while, but he was, as he always is supportive, kind and understanding of my feelings.

With trepidation I finally walked towards to the pay point, I made the decision there and then that the fear I had carried all those years was indeed just ‘false evidence appearing real’, all was going to be well and I would enjoy the trip to the view point at the top.

As the wheel started, I had butterflies in my stomach however they soon disappeared as we headed upwards, I choose to sit with my back to the centre of the wheel so I couldn’t see the workings, all I had to do was to sit back, hold my partners hand and enjoy the view so indeed that was all I did do.

It was amazing and all I had anticipated it would be, I loved it. I felt proud that finally I had conquered my fear and it had been replaced with happy laughter. Stepping out of my comfort zone had yet again been conquered.

With this in mind: I highly recommend that if you have a desire in life to do something out of your comfort zone gather strength from within, hold the hand of someone close, believe all will be well and go for it, from my perspective it was worth it.

I am indeed as a result planning a trip to Blackpool to revisit the place that once set me on a path that today I am today pleased to have stepped off as it means I can now look out on many horizons with a totally different viewpoint!