Small bites

Not ten feet tall or bullet proof

In a recent conversation with my mother in law - regarding my possible delay of graduation - I admitted that I had a slight crush on her husband. When you hear about his life and what he's accomplished - it's hard to imagine him as anything other than ten feet tall and bulletproof. He's a great example of what I person can do with their life if they have a mind to do great things. He dropped out of school, earned his GED, went to college to go on to get 2 masters' degrees and excelled highly in the miltiary all while having kids, being married and several stations through out the world.

It was in this conversation, when I was explaining my delimma with the drive to finish on time - regardless of the consequences - because I said I would - or dragging it out and taking my time - enjoying the ride - that she mentioned nobody's going to remember 3 extra months 10 years later. They will remember the manner at which they arrived there. What kind of experience did I want to have?

Then she mentioned that her husband lucked out in a lot of ways because he got paid to go back to school for his masters. Going to school was his job. Then, like a lightbulb, it occurred to me that he didn't do it all at once. He wasn't ten feet tall and bulletproof. The shock, the utter delight, the bewilderment at "How'd he DO it?" vanishing in thin air. There were times when it was hectic, times when it tried his strength of character. But he's not a machine. He managed to have his share of fun along the way.

There are those who'd find this information disappointing, once the illusion had been explained. I have never felt better about where I am in my life, possible failing included. Because at the end of the day, I'll finish. I'll move on to anothe project that takes me somewhere different. And if I'm lucky, someone someday will believe for a while that I'm ten feet tall and bullet proof, not understanding how I managed to be as flawless. And if they're lucky or if I'm lucky enough to see the admiration and wonder for myself - I'll be quick to tell them it took me a life time. It wasn't always easy, it looked like a train wreck at times.