What Rollerskating Has to Do With Spirituality

I love to rollerskate. It started in the second grade when I strapped on my first pair of orange wheeled brown leather lace up skates. Skating around and around on a wood floor for hours listening to pop music made its way to the top of my priority list of things to do.

And then I grew up and stopped rollerskating.

Instead I worked longer hours at an office and decided that as far as being an adult was concerned, rollerskating didn't really fit in anymore. Along with a handful of other favorite things.

I started to take life very seriously. Because that's what adults should do, right?

Um, no.

Unless you want to miss out on all the fun life has to offer, which I don't recommend.

Happiness isn't achieved exclusively when a goal is reached or when an item gets marked off the never-ending to-do list. That's only part of it. In fact, when we allow the destination to hold all of the fulfillment we are often times disappointed because, wait, that's it? Now what? Now I have to wait until the next thing to feel happy again. Shit.

When we stop placing our happiness on the outcome, the destination, the new job, the new house, the new whatever, the pressure is off and we can enjoy where we are now. Then when we get there, well, that's icing on the already deliciously sweet cake.

Do what you love everyday.

As adults we tend to forget what brings us joy, and understandably so. We've been trained to work hard 'cause life's hard. But when we reconnect with what we love and and then practice it, we begin to dance with life instead of resist it. And that's when inspiration strikes. That's when we begin to shift from living on auto-pilot and begin to live authentically from our spirit.

So, for me, I love to rollerskate, dance, play chase with my daughters, play volleyball, watch live music, a good cup of coffee in the morning, holding hands with my husband, hiking, crisp clean sheets, a good hug...you get the idea. And I make a point to have a few of the things I love sprinkled throughout my day and actually enjoy them.

Being happy and content doesn't mean every experience has to be epic or the best ever, but it does mean that you're tapped in to what brings you joy. Joy is found in the little things, and in the appreciation of those little things. That feeling you get when you pop up on your surfboard, if surfing's your thing, or that feeling you get when you unfold your paintbrushes and begin to work on your art - that's a connection to your spirit. That's living with soul.

So, in all actuality, for me rollerskating is spiritual. Because it's something I can do that makes me feel alive. I'm not worried, I'm not consumed with anything else other than the joy of the moment. I'm living in the moment without an agenda, the moment is enough, which is, after all, all we have.

So, it's your turn. What do you love? What are the small things in your life that make your heart sing? What could you do that would bring you joy, inspire you or make you feel connected to who you are? Start doing them every day and notice the shift from striving for contentment to actually arriving there. It's possible.

Enjoy your spiritual bike ride, skateboarding session, gardening time, run or whatever else your spirit calls you to do.

As we celebrate all we are thankful for this week, don't forget to celebrate and participate in all the little things that make you happy. Then watch your happiness grow.