Never go into your garage without your umbrella! (Part 1)
A couple days before Christmas, Kathy flew down the stairs and ran into the garage to pack the trunk of her car with her luggage. In a rush to get out of the house quickly and head to the airport, Kathy slammed the lid of her trunk on her right thumb. In a panic, she looked down and saw that her thumb was completely stuck and the trunk was completely closed. Her panic swelled as Kathy realized three things:
1. She did not have the car keys with her
2. She was by herself
3. The garage door was closed.
Terrified that it would be days before anyone would find "the body," she began a blood-curdling scream of "HELP! HELP! HELP!" Despite keeping up the intense shrills for five minutes (though it seemed like five hours), no one responded. Nearing hysteria, Kathy decided that her only chance of getting out was to figure out a way to get the garage door open.
The only problem (besides her thumb being stuck in the trunk) was that the garage door opener button was about 12 inches further than her hand could reach. "I do yoga every day," she told herself. "I must figure out how to stretch and hit the button!" Kathy then began to stretch, each time reaching a little further. Finally, after a few minutes and pulling her left should out, Kathy skimmed the button with the tip of her finger and the garage door began to open.
"YES!" she exclaimed. But as she looked outside, no one was there. "Keep screaming, someone will eventually come by," she thought. She blared out over and over again, "HELP! PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME!"
After five or six minutes, a lady walking her dog heard the screams and came running. With a big, black Doberman climbing on Kathy's back, the lady rushed into the garage and squeezed through to get in the car and hit the trunk release button from inside. As the trunk popped open, Kathy's thumb came loose - bleeding and mangled, but luckily all in one piece! (Waiting for the part about the umbrella? Stay tuned to next week's 60 Seconds for more of the story!)
Lenny has observed humans and has noticed that sometimes they get stuck in personal and work situations and don't know what to do. They feel all alone and see NO way out. Many times people just stay stuck, do nothing, and remain in their painful situation. The answer often comes by doing something and stretching beyond what seems possible. When we take action, doors open and help can arrive.
Lenny's Challenge: Take 60 seconds and ask yourself, "Am I stuck in a personal or work situation and feel like I can't get out? Am I doing nothing but screaming in pain?" Have you stopped trying, given up, or become convinced of failure? What is something you can do today to stretch beyond where you thought was possible. Who can you find from the outside to help?
Being bound by your own limitations is 100% your choice! Shed or You're Dead (TM)!