Glimpse!

One of the child characters on the show Parenthood has Asperger Syndrome. On last night’s show his parents gave him a birthday party and the hired entertainment was a man who also has Asperger Syndrome. The writer’s built a lot of humor into the character – at one point in the middle of the party planning meeting he asked to use their bathroom and hopped in the shower while he was in there – but there was also a great and thought-provoking underlying theme. The parents got a glimpse at what their son could be when he grew up and became an adult. He could function in society, took care of himself, and owned his own business. It gave them hope that their son would be able to overcome his challenges and live a ‘normal’ life.

Each of us has someone who is looking at our lives and is getting a glimpse of what they can or will be. It may be a child, a spouse, a co-worker, a friend, or a relative stranger who senses a connection. They have chosen to emulate you and to inspire to be like you either in total or in a particular aspect of your life. It’s an incredible responsibility. When someone looks at you and sees a glimpse of their future, what do they see?

Each of us has our own set of challenges and obstacles to overcome. The journey that we take to overcome them has as big an impact on others as the result when we get there. We can set a positive example with each step we take along the way.