Our family has spent a lot of time this year at our local Roller Rink. The first visit was a planned adventure by my hubby. He is adventurous and is always looking for fun things for us to do as a family. After our family outing, we have been back to visit for various birthday parties. This place has become a favorite for our entire family. It is a special place for reasons I would not have anticipated. The Roller Rink knows how to host what matters.
NOSTALGIA CAN’T BE BOTTLED, BUT IT CAN BE PRESERVED
Our local roller rink is retro in every sense of the word. Everything is the same as I remembered my old rink from 30 years ago. The colors, the smells, the prizes, the DJ booth…I underestimated the amount of nostalgia that lives in the roller rink or really any environment that brings back fun memories from your past.
Nostalgia connects the past to the present. It is so fun to be shared with those you love. Connecting over stories of your past to the memories being made in the present. Sometimes we need to go on a field trip to connect with people. Build a new memory to deepen the relationships. The nostalgia preserved in your heart is a great tool to use to create new heart connections with others. If you are looking to depend relationships, try the roller rink. I think it’s prime for relationship growth.
ROLLER SKATES ARE CONNECTORS
It baffled me how much people connect once they strap on a pair of skates. There is the basic unspoken intimacy that occurs when multiple people literally step into one another’s shoes, but beyond that, the connection of doing so is magnificent. Everyone shares the same experience. Trying to slip their foot into that snug boot of a shoe. Tying laces and tucking them so that they don’t cause themselves any more risk of falling than is already there. Then there is the comradery of skating together on the big open rink. People helping people. Lending a hand when someone is wobbly and picking each other up when they fall down. It is the common ground that creates the foundation for relationship growth.
PERSEVERANCE LIVES HERE
One of the many big highlights of our first family trip to the skating rink was the evidence of great perseverance. My girls are dancers. That dance background gives them a little bit of an advantage in the balance department. My son, on the other hand, does not have much experience on skates. He struggled. He fell. He Grandpa skated. But, something beautiful happened. My girls kept going to him to pick him up. Encourage him. Give him tips and lend him a hand to hold. It was precious.
He did not want to give up. He wanted to do the skate tricks that Daddy could do, so he pressed on. We spent most of the day at the roller rink, because he insisted that if he had just a bit longer he would get it. And…he did. After hours of trying different strategies, he finally got the hang of it. And watching him fly through the air as if he was on a cloud was glorious.
The Roller Rink is such a great atmosphere to test out struggle. Roller skating is hard at first for most people. The rink is set up for the impending struggle. They anticipate the hardship and prepare for their guest’s needs. They have rolling walkers to aid in balance. They have a small rink for little ones to go slowly and fall with more ease. They do not eliminate the hardship. They just open up a wide space for you to try and fail until you succeed. What a fantastic way to host. Come here and struggle. I’ll be here for you when you fall, to pick you up. And then when you succeed, my how much fun we will have together!!!
I hope you will venture out to a Roller Rink near you soon! Grab your family, a new or old friend and take them with you! You may leave with a few physical bruises, but the imprint on your relationships and heart will be worth it all!
Be sure to check out our SHOP page for some fun roller skating favorites today!
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Michelle Epperson says: My favorite post yet 💜 roller rink – you had me at sights smells and colors. Melissa – beautiful my friend. Just beautiful – thanks for the encouragement xo
Meet the Hostess
I'm a Southern girl who loves a good party, a house full of laughter, and a porch swing full of friends and family. I blog about how to host in a way that matters. Curious what I mean by that? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND READ MY STORY.
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