While flying to Boston to watch my best friend Geoff get married, I sat next to a kid named Taylor during the first leg of the trip. Taylor is a 4th grade student heading into 5th when his summer comes to an end. Taylor has no idea what he inspired.
About 45 minutes into the 2 hour leg to Atlanta, curiosity got the best of him as he repeatedly looked over at my tray and read the words that I was typing on my iPad. He asked me what it was that I was writing about. Those who know me, know that my brain doesn't shut off very often and I don't do well with "me time". I was, of course, working on a project for work. (yes, this should be a vacation). I'm by no means a martyr, I just happen to enjoy strategic work related thinking/writing. (zzzzzz)
I shut my iPad down and engaged in a conversation with the kid. Probably one of the smartest things I had done all week. Probably smarter than the work stuff I was doing.
In less than 10 minutes I knew his life story. He's a kid-they tell you everything. I knew that he was the fastest kid in his class. I learned that he was changing schools this year, 5th grade has him kind of nervous, where his grandparents lived, best rides to ride at Six Flags, how many siblings he has and lastly-after asking me what I do for a living, he then told me what he wanted to be when he grew up.
"I might be a professional runner, a football player or a dancer (because he liked country music)". Taylor, the kid in seat 43B could be anything he wanted to be because that's what kids do.
It always bothers me when I hear the phrase "but I don't know how to do anything else but....(fill in occupation here)". To me, that's sad. You get fired from your job and you turn around and limit yourself to opportunities-just the way you limited yourself by not learning additional trades or picking up a hobby that could later end up being a vocation. Sticking to that one job because it's all you know. Kind of close minded huh? Are people supposed to be impressed by that? Is that the kind of stuff you say on a job interview? "Hey, hire me because I only know how to do this".
Taylor wants the world. As a kid, that's easy because you don't have the worries of grown up life. Nobody fired you. Nobody has broken your heart and the insecurities of adolescence haven't kicked in yet. You don't have any scars besides the one from when you fell off your bike doing that kick ass jump in the driveway! (mom wasnt impressed) The world is a blank canvas and an open book when you are a kid. We should learn from that. I hope to see Taylor win a gold medal in the relay, throw a Superbowl winning TD pass and follow it up with a spot on Dancing With The Stars!
Whats stopping you?
#flying #kids #judybloom #superfudge
