At 7:30am, today started out like any other Thursday, I packed up my computer and made my way to the WCOM studio in Carrboro, NC.
This is about a 30 minute drive for me and I enjoy every moment taking in the views on the winding back roads and listening to music. On this particular morning, I chose to listen to The Avett Brothers. In my world, I knew every word and sang in tune. In reality, I was belting out the words with wild abandon and about an 80% chance that they were actually the correct words.
By the time I got the studio, I was in a great mood and greeted my in studio guest, Carole Hoffman and prepared for my call in guest, Meri Raffetto. Both of my guests were thoroughly enjoyable and full of wisdom and I left the studio in high spirits.
As I was traveling through Chapel Hill, I saw an older lady crossing the road and I slowed my car to allow her to complete her crossing. She walked slowly with a limp and her white crown of hair and wrinkled brow displayed a quiet dignity that held my attention. As she crossed directly in front of me, our eyes locked. She had the kindest eyes and as we continued to watch one another, a look of familiarity crossed her face. I quickly searched her face and my memory banks, trying in vain to recognize her. She pointed at me, smiled and waved.
I rolled down my window.
“Can I help you?”
She smiled even wider. “Are you going anywhere near the Whole Foods?”
“No, I’m going past UNC to go back home.”
Her face fell slightly, but her eyes help their joy. “Well, that’s fine. Thank you.”
She turned to go and I heard myself say,”Do you know where the Whole Foods is?”
Her face beamed as she exclaimed, “It’s right down this road. My name is Star.”
I invited her into my car and as soon as she got in, she slapped her leg with joy. “I’m loving your music! This is wonderful!!”
We started moving and I beamed as she started singing the lyrics to the song, Shame by The Avett Brothers.
Okay so I was wrong about
My reasons for us fallin’ out
Of love I want to fall back in
My life is different now I swear
I know now what it means to care
About somebody other than myself
I know the things I said to you
They were untender and untrue
I’d like to see those things undo
So if you could find it in your heart
To give a man a second start
I promise things won’t end the same
Shame, boatloads of shame
Day after day, more of the same
Blame, please lift it off
Please take it off, please make it stop
By the time we got to the chorus, she was slapping her hands on her legs in time with the music with so much zeal, I thought she just might hurt herself. As the thought was leaving my head, the light in front of us turned red.
Star turned to me, “Thank you so much for your kindness and your music. I never heard this before.”
“Really?”
She nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, in fact, 3 years ago, I was lying on a hospital bed. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t talk and the doctors told me I was dying. They gave up on me.” Star gazed intently into my eyes, “But I’m back. I’m learning all over again how to talk and walk. And look at me, now here I am in the car with you singing a song I don’t know and yesterday I walked through the botanical gardens and I can still remember doing it. I got a second start and you know what, I don’t think you would have given up on me.”
“Thank you, Star. I hope that’s true.”
I wondered to myself as I dropped Star off at Whole Foods, would I have given up on her? Her gratefulness and zeal for simple pleasures after struggling to come back from death’s door made me think about how often we give up on ourselves when our obstacles aren’t nearly as great. If Star can find the strength and courage to overcome her body shutting down, what can possibly hold us back from overcoming the limits that we place on ourselves in our minds?
The answer: nothing.
Well, if it’s nothing, what makes it so tough to get to where we want to be? For the most part, I think it’s because we end up focusing on what’s wrong instead of what we want. Star wanted to walk and talk and now she does. It made me think about what I wanted and what I was allowing to hold me back.
So, what do you want? Start taking control and get your butt in gear!
Be BOLD and Kick Your “Stuck” to the Curb™