It was a total step back to childhood for me.

Anyone else out there who used to regularly hit up the roller rink as a kid?

I remember spending so many Sunday afternoons there, as a family.

I loved that rush of skating around in circles. Trying to skate forwards, backwards, side to side.

It was so much fun that I clearly recall the feeling of dread I had when I realized I’d soon have to go home, start thinking about the school day that lay ahead.

Faced with quite the downpour last weekend, Brother and I suggested we take the kids to the roller rink.

Well, a kid.

Little nephew had fallen asleep. Other Brother stayed home to be with him.

So adorable niece, Brother, and sister in law and myself made the roller rink adventure … a true adventure.

Granted, my sister in law is much more daring than I … I was so impressed with her agile moves of jumping up and down and other craziness — on skates, no less.

I was flooded with an overwhelming amount of memories while watching my niece learn to get her balance and skate.

I remembered myself, as a very young child. Timid and shy, unsure. Not wanting to fall. Not wanting to embarrass myself in front of the other kids.

As I stepped out on the rink, I was surprised by those similar feelings returning … the immediate caution that enveloped me.

It took a few laps and one near fall for me to gain back my confidence and to feel that I could literally put myself out there on display.

When I noticed these same hesitations in my niece, I decided enough was enough. It was time to throw caution to the wind.

Isn’t that what life is about anyway? Not being so hesitant and apprehensive. But instead just going for it?

So I went.

I went as fast as I could and it scared the s#%& out of me. I could feel my heart pounding. Everything in me telling me to slow down.

I didn’t.

I wanted to show my niece that even though you might be afraid, you go on ahead anyway. Just go. Don’t think about it.

Watching her slowly skate and try to make her way around made me feel so proud of her willingness to be in the moment.

She slipped and slopped her way through. She almost brought me down with her a couple times. But she made it, we both did.

And look. We even have the picture to prove it.