Roller Coaster

Thursday, September 11, 2025

The stock market has been keeping me wide-eyed all morning. Sitting here and clutching my coffee, I’ve been watching the numbers. They’re leaping as if they’re stars in an amusement park show. After weeks of comparatively lackluster market activity, this time it’s making me feel like someone strapped into a roller coaster—fast climbs, sudden drops, and no warning before the next turn.

I catch myself wanting to react to every swing. “Look, I want that gain!”—quickly followed by, “Oh no, gains can vanish just as suddenly!” In this sort of rising market, I’m strongly tempted to click buy or sell. As if I could steer the ride! Well, my repeated (and sometimes painful) learning is that the market never takes my cues.

I keep reminding myself: I’m not a day trader. I’m a long-term investor. My responsibility is an IRA—an account that needs to be steady, not dizzy. My goals are long-term, which means I can’t chase every tick. What I must do is breathe steadily through these rapid and significant gyrations and keep my eye on the bigger picture.

Still, I must admit—it’s thrilling. Part of me enjoys this spectacle. It’s like watching a storm sweep over the Cascades: dramatic, powerful, and entirely outside my control. My challenge is making sure the storm won’t blow me off course.

So today, I’m holding tight to my seat and remembering that account balance must matter more to me than reacting and speedy decisions. My job is to stay aware of the sudden swoops and dives—watching, learning, and doing my best to enjoy the ride. And not losing my footing.

— Diana