Today I had a realization that I had accomplished something that seemed impossible to me once. Originally it seemed impossible, because I’d never done it. I wanted the confidence of accomplishment BEFORE I started. But that confidence only comes AFTER you’ve done it. And, looking back now that I’m in this position, it seems almost laughable that I ever thought it was impossible.
I will share the journey to my Don Quixote moment using subtitles from lines from the song, “The Impossible Dream” from the musical “Man of La Mancha.”
Dream the Impossible Dream
Living abroad, I’ve always wanted to find a way to help my daughters contribute in the region of the world where we live, and to help them look outside of themselves. But I never knew how or where or what.
A few years ago, I attended a conference where we worked on hygiene kits for girls in developing countries who miss school due to lack of supplies to manage their menstruation. I felt immediately drawn to this as a perfect opportunity for myself and my four daughters.
To Fight the Unbeatable Foe
I looked to see if there was a chapter of Days for Girls near where we lived. There wasn’t. I didn’t feel qualified to start it myself. My most impressive sewing accomplishment was an elastic banded pair of pajama pants when I was 10 years old. I had never even sewn the entire hygiene, not to mention I didn’t know how I would figure out funding or where we would deliver them. And then there was just the time, mental energy and organization it would require!
To Be Better Far Than You Are
When we moved to Shanghai last year, a friend of mine—Sharon Huang—approached me about starting a group for Days for Girls. At first, I resisted for all the reasons above. But, with some continued encouragement, I agreed to consider starting a group.
To Try when Your Arms are Too Weary
I wasn’t sure how many people would even be interested but I sent out an invitation to an information meeting and was when 20 women came—some with their daughters. They were excited and passionate about helping others. We agreed on a time to meet regularly.
No Matter How Hopeless, No Matter How Far
But now I had to figure out the how. I didn’t know how to sew the kits. Talking around a bit, I found an amazing woman—Danielle Christiansen—who was running a Days for Girls sewing group in another area of the city. She allowed me to come and see how she set up the process, practice each step, and make samples. She mentored me on how they did things.
This is My Quest, To Follow That Star
Now I was feeling a bit more confident. I spent time practicing and creating stations. Now I had to get supplies. Being fairly new to Shanghai, a friend Jacqueline Walter, offered to take me to the fabric market and help me get the supplies of fabric scissors and other things. She was an expert and was able to negotiate amazing prices so we could make the kits way cheaper than planned.
And I know If I’ll Only Be True to This Glorious Quest…
By the evening of the first night I was feeling nervous but excited. Over 30 people came the first night—people from my neighborhood, our State Department community, and from church. It was an amazing group of women and some of their daughters who wanted to do good.
That My Heart Will Lie Peaceful and Calm
I spent many of the first few months of our sewing gatherings training people on how to sew the kits—and I was hardly the expert! But we learned together and grew together. My friend Jamie Rasmussen brought her sewing machine each time and helped others with sewing and fixing their machines. Others were soon able to train other members.
To Be Willing to Give When There’s No More to Give
I had started out funding most of the project myself, and began to be quite worried about how I would continue funding it all—especially as it grew. As people became more involved, others approached me and offered to contribute. Thanks to many generous donations, we were we able to fund our fabric and supplies for the kits, we were able to get better scissors and sewing machines that worked better and fell apart less often.
Some sewing nights were chaotic. I was often doing dinner on the run, or even picnicking on our kitchen floor since the table was occupied. I sometimes felt stress and took it out on the kids and wondered if all of this was even worth it! But I kept going.
And the World Will Be Better for This
We were able to make two deliveries last year. I was able to deliver some to an orphanage in India with my friends Jennie Marchant and Morgan Loosli. Some other friends, Ginger Habel and Jacqueline Walter, delivered some in Kenya. In both places, the girls who received the kits were so grateful and excited. We were able to offer empowering information about how bodies grow and develop, self-defense and how to avoid human trafficking. As our group saw pictures and heard about the deliveries we all felt energized and excited! Our group swelled to over 40 women and young women.
Strove with [Her] Last Ounce of Courage
This week was our first kick off sewing night of the school year. I had to stand back and be amazed for a moment about where we have come. Just a year earlier I was feeling unsure and hesitant about starting a group. A year later it has evolved into a thriving, talented group that is doing good. I didn’t reach or arrive alone—it was many of us working together. But it wouldn’t have arrived with the willingness to be a bit quixotic.
To Reach the Unreachable Star
A quote from Nelson Mandela came to mind as I stood and thought about where we had started and where we have come. He—who was a master at believing the impossible and making it possible–said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
We often want the assurance of the end result or the guarantee of our capability BEFORE we get there. It’s easy to use our lack of confidence as evidence that it won’t work. That it’s impossible. But only doing what we’re already good at will keep us doing exactly what we’re doing.
Keep Dreaming and Keep Reaching
Being willing to reach beyond the comfortable, and believe in the impossible is when we open ourselves up for the impossible to become possible. When it seems like we don’t have the capability or know everything about the how, we can remember that “It is always impossible until it’s done.” Keep going and accomplish the impossible. Have your own Don Quixote moment.
How to Accomplish the Impossible Dream
- Recognize that it always feels impossible before it’s done.
- Build on small successes
- Stand back and notice your progress
