When I was collecting ideas for my post on the Monster Hissy Fit, my friend Angela told me about a time when her daughter Brielle melted down and held up the queue for a zipline ride. The story of that zipline experience inspired its own post.

As many rides do, the Pumpkin Patch zipline required riders to be a certain height and weight and to wear a safety helmet. Brielle has wonderfully thick, dark hair. She always wears it in a high ponytail. The safety helmet for the zipline required her to lower the ponytail. Brielle was not agreeable to this stipulation and refused to let Angela redo her hair.

The line was growing longer, the ponytail was not fitting tightly in the helmet, and the operators of the ride were not willing to let her go without the helmet fitting snuggly. Angela did what any rational mother would do in this situation.

She shoved the helmet over the ponytail, pushed her daughter off the platform, and let the ride operators know she took responsibility for her daughter’s safety and the loose helmet.

After experiencing the exhilaration of the zipline, Brielle came running from the ride, face flushed back to Angela, and she cried in disbelief, “You pushed me!”

Her obstinate girl got what she wanted, but she did not appreciate Angela’s push.

Have you ever been pushed into something you weren’t ready for?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself on some sort of platform where I was pushed toward an outcome I hadn’t necessarily desired.

When I was 21, I took a trip to visit some friends in Florida. That visit turned into a character performer audition for Disney. That audition turned into one of the craziest times in my life. As I suited up, greeted, signed autographs, and took photos with probably thousands of people, my days were filled with Disney magic and hard work. I loved it!

Following the tragedies of September 11, 2001, I was forced to leave my dream job with Disney because there was no need for me there. Very few people were traveling, so, along with hundreds of others, I was laid off from the parks. Even my side job waitressing and bartending wasn’t bringing in any income because people were afraid to eat out. Out of necessity, I was forced into the decision to move back to Missouri.

Today I know that nudge put me where I needed to be. I needed to be back in school and pursuing my other dream of becoming a teacher. I needed to be in the place where I would meet the love of my life. I needed to find myself surrounded by a fierce tribe that is supportive, loving, and rallies around one another. I didn’t want that push, but I am so glad I got it.

Here’s your Intentergy challenge. Think about a time when you were pushed, prodded, or nudged to take a risk that you didn’t feel ready for or want. Say a prayer of thanks for that shove and maybe send a message of gratitude to the person whose motivational pokes proved to be what you needed. Your experience may not have been as thrilling as Brielle’s, but without the incredulous intonation, find a way to say thank you. Put some energy into recognizing the positive purpose of your unexpected (unwanted) pushes. You’ve come so far thanks to those thrusts.

By: Melanie A. Peters

P.S. I’m glad I have friends like Angela to share their pushy experiences and be strong parenting role models for me. Brielle will appreciate it one day too. 🙂

P.P.S. What was your memorable (unwanted) shove?