What If?

I recently heard the story of a young dancer who, as the result of a horrible accident, needed to have her big toe amputated.

Now, I know that you are thinking “it’s just a toe… so what?” but the big toe… isn’t just a toe. That particular digit plays a pivotal role in balance, weight bearing and propulsion. All key components in everyday life, and most especially in dance.

This young girl awoke from surgery and listened as her surgeon told her that she would have to drastically alter her expectations for her future. That she would have to re-learn how to walk and should never expect to be able to run. And he told her that she would not be able to dance again.

It was at this point as I was listening to the story that I found myself feeling devastated for this dancer, and imagining myself in her position. I was heartbroken at the idea of being told I could never dance again. Never run again. Of being told by some expert, some person so much smarter and better trained than I am, of the limitations that I should now expect within my own life.

But that was not how her story went. Not by a long shot.

This young girl sat in her hospital bed, not even having seen for herself the extent of her injury due to the bandaging on her foot, surrounded by people looking at her with so much sadness, and she had a much different response. She thought to herself, with all due respect to the medical professional telling her all of the things she would not be able to do, “but what if I can?”

And that thought, that tiny spark, was enough to change her world.

It’s all too easy to accept the expectations of others. Parents, teachers, doctors, experts. We’re taught from a very young age to respect their knowledge and experience. Beyond accept… to trust it. To believe it. And to obey it. It would have been so easy for this young dancer to hear those words and… proceed with her life as if they were true.

And here’s the thing. It isn’t that she didn’t believe them. She knew that the doctor was speaking from years of experience, learning and observation. She knew how impactful the loss of this toe would be on her movement and activity. The difference is that she didn’t let those words, those expert opinions, this one doctor’s experience, limit her potential. And that powerful thought gave rise to a two word mantra that allowed her to regain her power: What If?

We all experience this in our lives, granted not commonly in as dramatic a situation as an amputation, but the truth is, we’ve all been in this position before.

Maybe it was a teacher telling us that “math/art/science/fill-in-the-blank of their subject just isn’t for you.” Maybe it was a coach telling us that we’d never excel, that we should only play recreationally or as a hobby. Maybe it was a boss telling us that they just didn’t see a career path for us in our current position.

And maybe we believed them. I sure know I have believed them far too many times.

But maybe we didn’t have to.

Maybe the limitations that are put on us, even by experts, aren’t as absolute as they seem. Maybe these opinions… are just that. Opinions. Suggestions. Educated guesses.

And I get it - the vast majority of the time, they are well intentioned. They are shared to help us adjust our expectations to the “reality” of a given situation.

But also… maybe we can realize that “reality” is just a series of perceptions. And while the reality presented to us by an expert may be based on education and experience, it doesn’t always mean that it has to be our own reality. It doesn’t necessarily have to mean that their perception… has to change our own. And the simple idea of “what if” can become our most powerful tool.

What if I don’t stop just because they think I should?

What if I prove them wrong?

What if their expectations didn’t dictate my actions?

What if I actually can do it?

What if this tragedy is a turning point rather than an end?

What if I’m stronger than they’ve seen before?

What would happen if I just… tried?

So maybe next time the world tells you what you can’t do, what you won’t accomplish, what is impossible… let that little voice in your soul ask the question that could change your entire future.

This dancer proceeded to dance for 12 more years after what should have been a career ending tragedy. Then continued on to become a personal trainer and running coach.

And now she uses her story to make people like me believe that maybe I can strip away some of the limits that have been holding me back.

And maybe you can, too… because… what if nothing is impossible for you, either?