REACH

"You've gotta hand it to short people because they usually can't reach it anyway." I used to laugh about this because I'm short. I mean really short - 4'9". In the 1970s, I couldn't reach the rotary dial on the wall phone in my dorm. Picture me pulling a chair over to make a call. When I'm grocery shopping, seeing a can or box I want on the top shelf is like gazing at the summit of Mount Everest. Do I balance on my grocery cart, scale the shelves, or hope a tall person comes down the aisle who can help me? It takes effort for anything to be obtainable. At least, that's been my experience. Expanding outside my physicality is one thing but trying to achieve a personal goal is quite another. It's all about Reach. Reaching takes action. Reaching takes work. Things don't just drop in your lap because you wish on a star. (Wouldn't that be nice?) Every day, I try to go outside my comfort zone, stretch further, and break the boundaries. Some are giant-sized reaches - While searching for an explanation concerning my husband's cognitive decline, I read, asked questions (probably way too many for his therapist's and doctor's taste), and pushed harder than I knew possible. I did reach satisfaction, and he's doing very well. Some reaches seem small but are incredibly significant; like getting out of bed and facing the challenges the day has in store. There were times when my very sick husband was utterly dependent on me. I often wanted to hide under the blankets, toss out the white flag, and surrender. But I didn't. I couldn't. I pushed myself and didn't take the easy way out. My current reach is finding a broader platform to share my "Snap Out of It" journey. The people (not just my relatives) who read my book say it's been life-changing and affirming for them. They say, "You should have speaking engagements. Why don't you have a literary agent or a publicist?" And, of course, " When will we see you on the Today Show?" My answer is: "I'm working on it." It takes confidence and a LOT of work. Like needing that box on the top shelf in the grocery store, I'm not afraid to ask for help. (Anyone?) There's a line from Alice in Wonderland that's been my motto, and I'm sure you can relate. "My dear, here we must run as fast as we can just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere, you must run twice as fast as that." And reach!