There are things that happen that will have a lasting effect on you. There are events that will teach you a lesson. As I think of what to write, I have been thinking of moments that have changed my life or put me in the trajectory that I’m on today.

There are stories that have started many years ago that only ended recently, and with that valuable lessons. This story spans many years, all surrounding an object and myself. I am not attached to possession nor do I care to have too many of them, but this insignificant object provided the biggest lessons.

Being a Carefree Kid

During the Summers, when I was 5 or 6, I would often visit my dad at work and spend the day with him. On his desk, he would have trinkets and ornaments around his desk. In between terrorizing the hardworking staff, and general 5-year-old shenanigans I would play around with all those trinkets. My favorite was this box with a man hanging from it. See below for reference.

I was not quite tall enough to be eye level, so I was always stretching to see the metal man bob back and forth. It is incredible how much time I spent just playing with this ornament. My Fixation, my wonder, was incredible. I could barely reach sitting atop my father’s desk, and it was automatically one of my favorite things.

My Favorite Toy became an Afterthought

As I grew up, my dad's office changed and I grew disinterested in all the trinkets his desk had to offer. Even my favorite ornament that I would play with for hours. We didn’t get rid of it. In fact, It was merely moved atop a filing cabinet. Although I grew taller and could see the contents of my father’s desk, the filing cabinet still had me reaching to play with my once beloved ornament. It was still out of reach.

I would pass by flick it once and keep going about my day. It was not important to me as my central activity, but I was glad it was around. The office changed the people in the office have changed, but I still had something from when I was a toddler and it was comforting.

I grew up

I had turned 21. I had moved back to America. Different office, different people, but my favorite ornament is gone. I actually never even thought about it. I could see the top of all the filing cabinets and it was missing and the truth is, I wasn’t trying to look for it.

Once again we had to move offices, and we were clearing the space. In the forest of boxes, our metal friend pierced the surface. I ripped the box open to find my once beloved toy.

The Moment that changed me forever

I marveled that it still existed, I was full of nostalgia. It was a moment of true bliss. As I inspected its condition, I was stopped in my tracks. I was never able to interact with this ornament fully. I was always reaching to play with it, but never have it on my hands.

There was a message on the inside, always outside of reach. It read “when you see the invisible, you can do the impossible”. Wow.

I cannot explain the chills that ran down my spine. It was a Cathartic experience that I have never experienced. The message I preach the way I live my life comes from that one saying. The answer was always barely within reach. Maybe I’m being a bit too sentimental, but it has had a profound effect on me.

Seeing the Invisible and Doing The Impossible

I have always been a dreamer. “Head in the clouds” as most would describe me. I never had a problem thinking outside the box. Being below average in almost every scholastic and athletic pursuit, I always had to think out of the box to get ahead. I always would dream of grand ideas.

I think what was even more important was the amount of time that this journey took. Sometimes it takes time to find the answer to your questions and struggles. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but we need to look at them in a new light.

I think It’s hard to be a dreamer. I think it's hard to be able to see the invisible, and throughout life, you think that there is something wrong with you. The key I found is to be able to make the invisible vision possible for others to see. To show people your vision. to tell the story of the invisible to where it becomes visible to the world.

It was hard always seeing the invisible, and I have been trying ever since not to stop dreaming, but working on my ability to show the world a glimpse into the world inside my head. Dreamers are crazy until they make something of those dreams. Until then keep dreaming, and one day, we can all do the impossible.