By Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Reaching Out With The Spirit
By
Dr. Gary S. Goodman Ó 2005
President, Customersatisfaction.com
At first, I thought he was just cold. The casino’s airconditioning was pumped up, and it did feel a bit brisk.
But then, he turned to the side, and instead of seeing theoutline of crossed arms beneath his tee shirt, I saw a flatsilhouette. Instinctively, I turned away.
I didn’t want to acknowledge that the gentleman standing infront of me in the buffet line, the chap who seemed sononchalant, easygoing, and totally comfortable surrounded bythree family members, had no arms.
An odd mix of emotions suddenly coursed through me, making mewoozy.
I wondered how he managed everything. My two days of carefreecard playing, dancing, roller coaster and log rides, embracingmy loved one, swimming, climbing to the top of the water slide,all of these things, things I could do flashed before me. Mostof my pleasures had involved grasping, gripping, touching,feeling, balancing, gesturing, and thousands of effortlessmanipulations, of which this gentleman was nearly incapable.
How would it feel to be him, to be in that body? I wondered.
Instantly, I was flooded with self-pity, hopelessness, anddespair. I wouldn’t want to live, I thought.
It was then that I realized what a coward I must be, compared tothis guy. He seemed the least self-conscious person standing inline. I felt grotesque, as I considered how I shrink fromchallenges, large and small.
Like a kid, I tell myself I don’t want to do this or that, andso I don’t. If he could only have a day indulging theopportunities I turn down, it would be nothing less than heaven.
Traffic was light, heading back to LA. I easily made it to myBlack Belt class. The Sensei had us hitting bags. Hisinstruction was simple: Outdo anything you’ve ever done before.
I held nothing back, as the image of that fellow glowed in mymind.
Over and again, with renewed spirit, I struck the bag for bothof us.
Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a popular keynote speaker, consultant,and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books. Heis the author of the Nightingale-Conant audio program, The LawOf Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable. Gary teachesEntrepreneurship and Consulting at UCLA Extension, and he isPresident of Customersatisfaction.com and The GoodmanOrganization, in Glendale, CA. He can be reached atgary@customersatisfaction.com.
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