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Possibility can be the spiritual “carrot on a stick” when you let it be so. Back in high school, our AP Physics teacher, Doc, told my best friend John about the usefulness of claiming to have potential. John said, “But I have a lot of potential, Doc!” Doc said, “50 cents and potential buys you a cup of coffee.” John got it. I got it. For both of us our ‘potential’ was the possibility of what we might become. Doc punctuated that ‘potential’ is never a given.
Much like potential, possibility and $3.50 gets you a half-caf soy latte, not a Grande. Not even close. Possibility isn’t real, not tangible in any kind of sense. You ain’t gonna touch or feel possibility. Rather, unless you’re taking action to realize your invented possibility, you may as well watch “Sportscenter” and eat that bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. “I am the possibility of peace for all people” ain’t happening with me sitting on my ass streaming Netflix at home.
Invented possibility creates a framework in which we can live our lives into. Infinite possibilities exist in the defined limits. In the Director Josh Boone’s movie “Fault in Our Stars” Shailene Woodley’s Hazel Grace, who is dying of cancer, distinguishes her love for Gus, who also has terminal cancer, played by Ansel Elgort.
Hazel describes that there are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There is a bigger set of infinite numbers between 0 and 2. There’s even a bigger set of infinite numbers between 0 and 1 million. “Some infinities are simply bigger than other infinities.” Hazel says, “But Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am, for our little infinity. You gave me a forever, within the numbered days. And for that I am… I am eternally grateful. I love you so much.”
That’s possibility within our limits. Infinity comes in all different sizes, for all different people. Yet, your infinity is what matters, what defines you.
In my senior year of high school, I was so angry that I didn’t get into UC Berkeley. Berkeley was my dream school. Being rejected I got, “I’m not smart enough.” I had my limits. So I studied electrical engineering at the University of Hawaii. I did okay. Then in Graduate School, I discovered my calling studying Communications Theory with Dr. Tom.
Dr. Tom taught me the art of thinking: looking at the bigger picture. Tell the most complex concepts in a story that others can get. I lived within the possibility of my smart. I was at least smart enough to hold my own.
I discovered the possibility of greater than I know me to be, working in Satellite Systems Engineering. I worked with friends and mentors like Al and Chuck. No longer just possibility: I was very good I what I did. We designed, tested and deployed the Government Satellite System that’s still operational today. So much for “not smart enough”. I embraced the greater than version of me.
Mom made me take Aikido when I was 12 years old. I loved it. I had a great teacher in Sensei Donald. I stopped practicing aikido to concentrate on my college prep school studies. I gave up the possibility of Black Belt.
Around 1990 my friend Charlie invited me to watch an Aikido class in West Los Angeles. After watching, I thought, “I could do this.” Eventually, I met Sensei Dan. That defined our journey together for the next 25 years. In training with Dan, the possibility of Sensei arose. Training with Sensei became the possibility of becoming the man I wanted to be. So I trained my ass off. I got that possibility and sitting on my ass means shit.
Today, I’m Yondan, 4th-degree black belt. I’m still learning from Sensei Bobby. I’m honored in passing on what I got from Sensei Dan and Sensei Bobby to other students.
Possibility isn’t real in the sense that possibility alone doesn’t alter one’s life. Possibility provides the framework onto which you can build your life. That’s the value of possibility. Not romanticizing possibility itself.
Often possibility arises from what you don’t know or from what’s missing. I had no desire to be Sensei when I was training Aikido at 12. The yet undistinguished in you makes a profound difference.
Possibility is pure. Possibility inspires. Yet, it’s up to us as to whether we are willing to surrender and give our lives to it. You work your ass off within the possibility of because you want to make a difference for others and yourself. That’s the unique upside of possibility. That’s the blessing. Amen.
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