Let me tell you a little bit about my family. I come from a line of strong women with high expectations and powerful opinions. The thing growing up was that as the only girl surrounded by a grandmother, 2 aunts and my mom I received plenty of nagging but and more importantly I also received plenty of support – when it came to important things and decisions in my life I could do no wrong as far as they were concerned – and even if deep down they had their doubts – they always were supportive.
And so it seemed like a natural path that their ways rubbed off on me. But I did not realize how much until I had grown much older.
Many years ago a friend of mine invited me to join her on a trip for the week end. In fact we were 4 – 2 guys and 2 girls. The second day of our trip to Wales we decided to go for a long hike across beautiful fields and suddenly the guys saw a mountain peak and decided to climb it – it wasn’t that high, but still from the down where we were it looked a daunting task. The guys went off shouting "see you on top"….my girl friend looked at me shocked ‘I am sorry there is no way that I can hike up that hill” no way ….she felt alone, she felt the power of ONE…..
Some years later, when I was already in Greece I decided to change my life and study shiatsu – sounded easy, but it turned out to be quite a daunting task – 3 years of anatomy, psychology, physiology, energy points and so forth ….and all in Greek and all new, we had to give long exams and one day one of the other girls came to me and she said "I think I will pack it in ….there is no way that I can learn this" – and she felt alone, she felt the power of one
And then there was the little boy from next door – 4 years old and riding his little bike. The day came when the parents decided to take of the support wheels and wanted him to learn riding the bike without them – but he got scared and he turned to me and said "Christiana I don’t want to go back on"….he felt alone he felt the power of one
However, the powerful women in my life had given me the gift of support and love and I had taken that gift and made it my own. Without realizing it at first supporting people came natural to me.
So when my friend said that she could not climb the mountain I was able to look at her and say, “don’t worry ….ignore the peak, lets take it one step at the time and lets see how far we get. I’ll be with you all the way and any time you want to stop we stop.” And you know what? SHE made it all the way to the top. When she realized that she had succeeded she jumped up and down and the only smile bigger then mine was hers. She could not believe that she had done it. – she no longer felt alone – she had felt the power of 2
And when in the shiatsu school my fellow student felt she was not able to continue I said to her “You are a great practitioner – lets help each other with the theory – lets study together and see each other through the difficult times.” And so we did – for the next 2 years we supported each other and were the first students to pass in the required time – we no longer felt alone – we felt the power of 2
And when the little boy said he did not want to get on the bike again I put my arms around him and hugged him tide. I said – “don’t worry, lets do it together – you sit on the bike and I will hold you – you can do it you will see” – and so he did and in time he started to feel more comfortable and eventually I could let go – he no longer felt alone – he had felt the power of 2
So whenever someone feels alone and needs encouragement or support, I will encourage them – and I have always been grateful for the people who have encouraged me.
You need number 2s – I need numbers 2s – we all do
I need number 2s when it’s time to keep going and finish what I started, I need no 2s when I am fearful to take the next step or when I doubt myself.
It’s good to accept help – and it’s good to give.
So I want to challenge you – Look around you next time you see someone who is struggling with something - maybe you decide to become their No 2.
