The Reluctant Runner: Eliminating Impossible

My son has learned to crawl. I witnessed it today. Truth is he has been getting around for the last week with this sort of shuffle ball kick motion that would make any soft shoe dancer proud. But this afternoon, I looked down and saw the actual, bum in the air, hands and feet moving as one action that is unmistakably crawling. He still needs some practice but he is definitely getting around with goal oriented ambition. And he is delighted to be getting to all of the places he has been dreaming of getting to over the last few weeks…yes, the far corner of the living room that houses an interesting mess of cords and plugs that has been taunting him for days is now attainable. Life has suddenly gotten bigger. What was once seemingly impossible is now possible.

I remember feeling his frustration…“it’s impossible to run that far.” That’s what I used to think…just a couple of months ago. Someone I knew was running six miles earlier that morning and I thought…I can’t even imagine running that far. It’s impossible...how am I going to ever be able to do that? It goes against my nature. I’m not athletic…I’m not a runner. I just hope I can make it through tomorrow’s workout.

Then, as I was remembering how that self-doubt never served me well, my thoughts again turned to Hannah. At times, she must think a happier life seems impossible...out of her grasp. After all, she has been told, maybe not directly, but by the actions of the people in her past that she is a lost cause…with the odds against her from the day she was born. Naturally, many believe she’ll inevitably take after the horrible examples she was given. Naturally, (time and time again) she rejects healthy guidance. Naturally, she could turn into a similiar version of the people she has been hurt by. That seems to be her fate. That is what is predicted by many. That she (a very recently turned 14 year old girl) is without hope. In fact, she probably even sometimes thinks her chances are impossible because in her short life, she hasn’t been given much proof otherwise.

So here’s what I think now that I’ve come almost half way and now that I have proven myself wrong in my misguided theories of just what exactly is impossible.

In the case of Hannah, the past is behind her and though she carries the pain, struggle and burden of it with her every day…I believe she will discover her ability to dig deeper and work hard for a better future will surprise her. I believe she will overcome her “impossible” with the support of the Youth Homes and this community. After all, if I didn’t and if people in general didn’t… then, well… there would be no point, no hope and no reason to try anything in the case of a 14 year old girl who has had no real proof that she matters. That would be the only really impossible situation.

So let’s throw out the idea of “impossible” shall we? Let’s get behind the idea that while things seem daunting and against all odds…we can make change happen. From a very natural progression of a baby learning to crawl to a pursuit of a middle aged woman with no history of athletic ability learning to run to a young girl with a nightmare of a past learning to fight for a better future…we all need to believe in overcoming the seemingly impossible and the very relative challenges in our lives.

Oh… and Easter morning April 4, 2010 I ran my six miles…took me a very long hour and 15 minutes and I thought of my hope that Hannah will prove to herself the "impossible" can be done...pretty much the whole way.