A Little Hand

Learning doesn't happen in our comfort zone. It only happens when we courageously stretch. I share this reflection with participants all the time, therefore I know it's important I also live it as well. So when my friend issued me a challenge the other week I had a choice to make. Stay comfortably where I was in an observer position. Or on this occasion, literally jump in!

"You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - Brian Tracy

We were at a trampoline venue with my friend's 3 children (7 years old, 5 and 3). It had been so much fun over the last hour and a half jumping, watching and laughing, then came my friends challenge. It was to jump off the trampoline the kids were now using and into the big foam pit. Not the biggest challenge in the world I know, but by that stage of the session I'd moved comfortably into watching mode. 'Challenge accepted' I said!

"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll

The three kids cheered me on as I moved onto the trampoline. Bounce, bounce, bounce and then splat is what happened next (luckily those pieces of foam are actually quite comfortable to land on). I'd never been in one of these big foam pits before and I was suddenly realising they are not the easiest things to get out of. Not being able to walk on the bottom meant I was floundering across to the side trying not to sink down too far as I pushed on. When I got to the edge the next challenge suddenly appeared.

"Helping one person might not change the world, but it could change the world for one person." - Unknown

The kids had made getting out after their go look so easy. I definitely did not. So as I momentarily struggled I was met with one of the most powerful gestures we can provide another as humans, a little hand. In this case it literally was a little hand, my friend's 3 year old was closest to me and he so genuinely and cutely reached down to help pull me out. On seeing this, his 7 year old brother came running across to try and take over as he thought he'd be better able to assist. I thanked them both for offering, then scrambled my way out.

"A person's most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others." - Unknown

Those simple small gestures had such an impact on me. We all experience struggle, challenge and discomfort throughout our lives, and a little hand at those times really does go such a long way. Whether it's family, friends, colleagues or a complete stranger, we can make such a difference through our thoughts, words and/or actions, no matter how old we are! A 3 year old reminded me of that.

“Helping others, without expecting anything in return is what true self-worth is all about.” - Gavin Bird