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