Brass Rings and Horsies!

​Merry Go Rounds (or Carousels) are fun!  Merry Go Rounds that have the plastic rings that you can grab and throw onto the stick or into a hole are even more fun.  Then there are the Merry Go Rounds with the very unique and special "Brass Ring".  If you can reach out far enough and risk getting uncomfortable, you can grab a hold of that special brass ring and then turn it in for a big prize (often a free ride).  When Merry Go Rounds first came into existence over 100 years ago, the animals in the center of the ride moved up and down and everyone wanted to ride those. The animals on the outer edge of the ride were static and didn't move so in order to persuade riders to get on those animals, the operator of the Merry Go Round added the rings, including the brass rings.  Some kids still chose the "jumpers" in the center because the risk and challenge of reaching out to get the rings was too scary and the immediate reward was automatic.  No risk involved.  That is fine, if you don't like free stuff.  That is fine if you are only interested in being normal.  That is fine if your goal in life is to participate but not to achieve more.  Reaching for the brass ring has always been synonymous with striving for more or being our best or living life to the fullest.  There are few times in life when we actually have a choice to play it safe or to take risks to achieve more.  A day is coming soon for us all to make that choice.  That day could be today.