I was shaving my beard this morning and thinking about the very first time that I shaved. On that day, my Dad presented me with what I can only describe as a shaving apparatus. It was one of those gadgets that one had to unscrew to dismantle, fit in a razor blade, screw it back again, lather your face and shave. That kind of shave required some skills because the outcome was usually the result of how precisely you fitted the razor blade in the gadget. If not done correctly, you ended up cutting yourself on the face and neck with the depth of the injury based on how awkwardly you placed the razor blade. When I tried it the first time, it was disastrous, and I had to postpone my shaving debut despite the fact that I had looked forward to it by carefully cultivating the wisps of hair on my face.

Fortunately, it was the only time that I used that gadget because soon after, we got introduced to the plastic disposable shaving gadgets that are now common. After some time, the same gadget was re-introduced with two razors; just in case a single hair escapes the first razor, the second will definitely get it. Again after some time, the same gadget got a third razor; this time, to give you the smoothest shave ever. As a result, shaving has become easier and I can enjoy doing it every day.

When I look at such events, I see the things that I am struggling with now, and know that things will get better. I remember that at one point in my life, the only promise that I had that I will one day be able to wear (not even own) a watch was a tiny dark birth mark that I have on my left wrist. And that one day I will be privileged enough to wear a tie, I had a similar birth mark on my neck.

When we were children it was easy to keep hope alive by believing that we were destined to enjoy the things that we thought were out of our reach. As an indication that we were marked for such greatness, we looked for signs on our bodies as pointers. And sure enough, I now own a watch and I have a closet that contains many neck ties. And the fact that now it does not seem like a big feat cannot make me place any less importance to what these things meant to me once.

That the things that seem out of our reach now, will one day be within reach is for sure. But for some reason many adults seem to wait for other people to tell then what they can or cannot be, do and have. What are your dreams? Like a little child, learn to look for the indications that you are destined for this greatness and believe that it can all be yours and it will be.