Last night the moon shone so brightly through the last glimpse of daylight above our house that my son was awestruck. “Mommy, look at the moon. I wan
t to try and reach it” he yelled with an ear to ear grin. He reached as high as he could but it wasn’t quite high enough. Then he did what any nearly three-year-old would do – he asked to be lifted up so he could try again. When that didn’t work he pulled out a long shovel and tried to reach it with the handle No luck. Just before bedtime he put on his super hero cape and decided this would be the answer. If he was dressed as a super hero certainly he could reach the moon. He hopped up on my shoulders and gave it one last go. He left with no success but decided that he would think of other ways to reach the moon and try again the next day.
This moment was a reminder to me that we should never stop reaching for the moon. In today’s hectic world we all get so engrossed in our day to day lives that we forget to set goals and reach for them. Between the cooking, cleaning, working endless hours, and childrearing it just feels like we are barely surviving let alone striving for new heights. In my own life I need to constantly be reminded that the status quo is not good enough. I need to come up with creative ways to reach my goals and I believe that starts by setting small, attainable goals.
This summer I was encouraged by a good friend to jump back into something I had not done for years – triathlons. Months ago this seemed like an easily attainable goal. But, as life got in the way and 40 hour work weeks turned into 60+ hour workweeks, my training fell by the wayside. Only the week before my triathlon was scheduled did I dust off my bike and take a short ride. The weekend before I tried swimming in the reservoir and literally thought I was going to drown. But I knew I could reach my goal if I pushed myself and when I did my family would be there to cheer me on.
Last Sunday I, along with thousands of determined women, headed to Cherry Creek Reservoir for my first ever Tri for the Cure. Knots tore my stomach apart as I pumped up my bike tires and strapped on my swim goggles. Would I really make it to the end? The moment I hit the water I wanted to vo
mit. Swimming in open water has always made me nervous. As the purple capped group of women was released into the water my worst fears were realized. The water was murky and I was being constantly kicked in the face. I fell to the back of the group and had to stop repeatedly to check where I was going and catch my breath. But I just kept going. Finally, rounding the third and final buoy, I was able to get my rhythm and finish strong.
In the days before the race my husband had reminded me that riding a bike was something you never forget. I pointed out that as a child facing long, cold winters in Colorado I did in fact forget how to ride a bike. Luckily, he was right on this one. I hopped on my bike and felt instantly comfortable. I even made it up the hill that seemed to give everyone problems without too much effort. At the end I breathed a huge sigh of relief and prepared for the one thing I knew I could do – a 5K run. That feeling at the at the end was worth all the training, worrying and preparing. As I reached the finish line I saw my husband and baby girl cheering me on and felt so proud of myself for reaching for something and attaining it. I felt like I was setting an example for my daughter (who is too young to ever remember it). I also felt like I need to set more goals and reach for them.
Maybe there is a lesson for us all to learn from my toddler and his repeated attempt to reach as high as he possibly can? Most of us get bogged down with the day to day tasks that come with being parents and responsible adults and sometimes we need to remember to reach for the moon, whatever that means to in your life.