| Reaching Out With The Spirit | | | | thousands of effortless manipulations, of |
| | | | which this gentleman was nearly incapable. |
| By | | | | |
| | | | How would it feel to be him, to be in that |
| Dr. Gary S. Goodman Ó 2005 | | | | body? I wondered. |
| | | | |
| President, At first, I thought he was just | | | | Instantly, I was flooded with self-pity, |
| cold. The casino's air conditioning was | | | | hopelessness, and despair. I wouldn't want to |
| pumped up, and it did feel a bit brisk. | | | | live, I thought. |
| | | | |
| But then, he turned to the side, and instead | | | | It was then that I realized what a coward I |
| of seeing the outline of crossed arms beneath | | | | must be, compared to this guy. He seemed the |
| his tee shirt, I saw a flat silhouette. | | | | least self-conscious person standing in line. |
| Instinctively, I turned away. | | | | I felt grotesque, as I considered how I |
| | | | shrink from challenges, large and small. |
| I didn't want to acknowledge that the | | | | |
| gentleman standing in front of me in the | | | | Like a kid, I tell myself I don't want to do |
| buffet line, the chap who seemed so | | | | this or that, and so I don't. If he could |
| nonchalant, easygoing, and totally | | | | only have a day indulging the opportunities I |
| comfortable surrounded by three family | | | | turn down, it would be nothing less than |
| members, had no arms. | | | | heaven. |
| | | | |
| An odd mix of emotions suddenly coursed | | | | Traffic was light, heading back to LA. I |
| through me, making me woozy. | | | | easily made it to my Black Belt class. The |
| | | | Sensei had us hitting bags. His instruction |
| I wondered how he managed everything. My two | | | | was simple: Outdo anything you've ever done |
| days of carefree card playing, dancing, | | | | before. |
| roller coaster and log rides, embracing my | | | | |
| loved one, swimming, climbing to the top of | | | | I held nothing back, as the image of that |
| the water slide, all of these things, things | | | | fellow glowed in my mind. |
| I could do flashed before me. Most of my | | | | |
| pleasures had involved grasping, gripping, | | | | Over and again, with renewed spirit, I struck |
| touching, feeling, balancing, gesturing, and | | | | the bag for both of us. |