What does it take to make it?:
I met a little 7 year old girl this weekend who was the embodiment of courage. She was a student in our kids commercial workshop. She had a twin sister, and her twin seemed unaffected by the challenges of the class. Even though it was obvious that she was shy, and she was frightened, this adorable tiny girl somehow found the courage inside her, and she rose to the occasion and she worked as hard as she could as long as she could.
About halfway through the class I could see that this little girl could not do any more, but she didn’t stop. She did not break down, even though you could see a tide of emotion rising up in her. Nor did she stuff that emotion down, but rather, she looked me in the eyes and kept working, and working until she did not have anything more. She did not quit. I was so impressed.
I am still so impressed and somewhat in awe. ’ She looked me back in the eyes. and continued to work. She is seven years old!
Her parents were great. They watched attentively, with full respect of their daughters feelings. This little girl did not sneak a look to her parents as if to say ‘should I continue?’ and neither of them demanded of her a ‘stiff upper lip’. There was no hint of ‘you go get back to work’. They let her fly on her own and stood ready to catch her. And when the little girl decided that she had enough, her parents arms were waiting for her, to hold her until she recuperated.
I found myself thinking: this wasn’t the ‘good little soldier’ standing in front of me. I was in the presence of a champion, in a very tiny form.
What could I accomplish if i had this child’s character. How many adults would have given in, or broke down, or said, ‘I’m sorry, I need a minute’, or stopped completely? How many grown ups would back off because we’re are afraid .. of being afraid.
We are not brave we are not afraid, we are brave when we are afraid and take action anyway. This little girl reached down into her own considerable well of strength and worked even though she was afraid, and she woke up the next morning, stronger and less afraid then she when went to bed the night before.
May we all own that kind of resolve: To be able to focus in the face of fear, to have the burning curiosity to keep moving to our goals ,in the midst of a storm of fear and emotion; to be afraid, to be emotional; to continue working.
People ask me ‘what does it take to make it, or Do you think I have what it takes to make it? I wish people could have seen this, because this is what it takes to make it.
Chuck
