Five-Foot Nothin'

Rescue Extraordinary

Day 1 of the quest and Real Life rears its ugly head to combat me. Real Life taunted me all day long. Nagging me every minute about work, phone calls, emails...the kids, the dry cleaning...and chiding that gas and groceries are essential for suburban survival. Real Life droned on, "Just get through what you have to do...then you can think about the rest."

You know, Real Life can be a complete, ignorant jerk.

What Real Life was telling me was absolutely false. Yes, things have to get done. And get done well. Family, work and life-sustaining biological needs will not wait. But the approach that we often hear Real Life whispering in our ear is tainted with ridiculously dangerous...well, hooey. Here's what's wrong with what Real Life was saying:

1. 'Just' is a four-letter word. It dangerously diminishes everything. Period.
2. 'Get through'...What sort of wonderful ever came from 'just getting through'?
3. Thinking about 'the rest' after 'just getting through'. Seriously? 

Are we honestly supposed to reserve living at our best for the spare moments after we've successfully achieved mediocrity? Absolute nonsense. Yet if you look around, isn't that what most people are conditioned to think?

Extraordinary, the pursuit of it, and sadder yet-- the belief that it will be a part of one's life on any given day,  is often viewed with the same likely odds as winning the lottery. 

And so the mission for Day 1 became clear: Rescue Extraordinary.

Responsibility wouldn't wait. So, I bought 10 lottery tickets and carried them in my purse while Real Life tried to shove me around all day. And as I completed my tasks, I would occasionally pull one out of my stash and give it to a perfect stranger who was at work, helping me with mine. At the gas station, at the drug store and at the grocery store.

The results were amazing.

• 100% never asked my name. Good. That's exactly the way I wanted it. Who I am is not important....this was a true gift for them...absolutely no strings attached.
• 100% of their eyes widened. When extraordinary happens, you open your eyes wider to capture more. Very Cool
• 80% of their postures straightened significantly. I always like to see people feeling good and standing tall.
• 80% responded: "For ME?" or "Really?" They couldn't believe it was truly for them.
• 70% of the color in their faces increased. Blushing? Maybe a couple. But a sure sign that blood is pumping a little faster. Vitality is good.
• 50% thanked me 3 times. You know someone really means something when they repeat the idea 3 times in 90 seconds.
• 10% went completely speechless and had to get bailed out by their co-worker for a response at first. Priceless.

The daily grind. Most are in it...and can't wait to get out of it. Social Media is filled with groans of: "Is it Friday yet," like a school child watching the hands of a clock. And when the 'five-o-clock whistle' finally blows, they turn to escapism: Watching other people they've never met have extraordinary things happen to them. Vicariously 'living' (that's not living at all) through public figures.

Conversely, for the rest of their shift, these ten people could tell their co-worker's about the extraordinary thing that just happened to them. Not some actor or sports figure--THEM. And for the rest of the evening, they were once again permitted to own good fortune for themselves. And for the rest of the night they had a reason to imagine and anticipate more good things happening to them: "What if I win?"

When these ten people punched out for the day, they didn't have to go live their lives through someone else on the screen. Last night, they had their own extraordinary story to tell. And to the listener of their extraordinary story, I can't help but think that maybe...just maybe...the listener gave themselves permission to wonder if something extraordinary could happen to them, too.

Real Life will always be around. But yesterday, Extraordinary was rescued ten times over from  drowning in 'getting through' and gave Real Life a run for its money...

Much appreciation and admiration to the diligent associates of Cheveron, Trader Joe's, Bashas' and Walgreens: Marc, Tiffany, Cin, Jeremy, Jon, Chris, Clark, Tim, Chris Y and Nicholas.

By the way, it appears that someone won the lottery last night. Although my actions were small, perhaps the results were larger than I'll ever know.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to add your comments - I'm interested. If you like what you read, subscribe and pass it along.

- Dolores McKay

Prove What?

Amazing what can happen in twenty-four hours. Simply  amazing.

To those who sent incredible notes about the Five-Foot Nothin' quest, I am not only grateful, but moved beyond words. (You can imagine how seldom that happens).To know this undertaking means something personal--the fact it means something at all to you --is a humbling honor.

Writers have a sole purpose: To be read. And writers have one hope: What is read makes a meaningful impact on the reader. I thank you.

I must admit, I was delighted some of you picked up on the origin of the blog name: The movie 'Rudy'.

One of my favorite movies of all time (that's an understatement), I am not only completely inspired by it, I can completely identify with Rudy.

After a lifetime of beating the odds, accomplishing what he was told since birth he could not...and for that matter...should not dream of doing--Rudy pursues his ultimate passion: becoming a member of the Notre Dame football team.

You see, Rudy had a best friend. One person that dreamed Rudy's dream with him...every day...with belief in his heart that Rudy was great enough to do anything he imagined--Including running out of the Notre Dame tunnel in blue and gold. It was upon the sudden loss of his friend that Rudy finds the courage to do whatever it takes to finally make his dream real.

I get that. Without that special person to dream it with you, the only solace is to stop dreaming about it and make it a reality. Yeah...I really get that.

Despite massive rejection from organizations, family support and even his fiance, Rudy finds a way. Not without healthy doses of temporary failure, not without bruises to the body and the spirit..Rudy finds himself where nobody thought he belonged - Notre Dame football.

I get that, too. As a self-proclaimed 'weed' *(*see blog post: Blowing It), I sprout up all sorts of places people don't think I should be at first.

When Rudy learns however, that his last chance to 'dress' as a player for Notre Dame (he had never put on the uniform on game day) will not come to fruition, Rudy quits. His chance to prove himself to the world will not happen and he is defeated. And like the rest of us, when we make a huge mess out of our lives, sometimes we need a 'janitor' to come and clean up the thoughts in our head. It is for the matchless scene between Rudy and the janitor that straightens him out, this blog and quest are named. I have attached the clip for you to watch.

The janitor points out despite whatever innate disadvantages Rudy has, his tenacity and diligence is proof enough of what Rudy can do.

"You're five-feet nothin'...a hundred and nothin'...and you got hardly a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in with the best college football team in the land...for two years. And you're also gonna walk out of here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this lifetime you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody...except yourself. And after what you've gone through...if you haven't done that by now...It ain't gonna never happen."

Starting today, for 365 days, I've got nothing to prove. That would be a waste of my time and energy. I'm in this quest because I've got something to give...every day that I'm breathing. And I want to give the best I can until I stop breathing.

I'm five-foot nothin'...not even a hundred and nothin'...and I'm gonna walk out of this life leaving it all on the field. Period.

Thanks for dreaming with me Laura. Now that you're gone, it's time for me to make it a reality.

Time to go cause some trouble. I'll be posting daily, my activities from the day prior...

Thank you for reading. If you like what you see, feel free to comment, subscribe and pass it on...

-D-