Six Impossible Things

"This is impossible." - Alice

"Only if you believe it is." - Mad Hatter

"Sometimes I believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast." - Alice

"That is an excellent practice." - Hatter

After watching this movie recently, I got to thinking about impossible things.  In Wonderland, some of the impossible things Alice thinks of are things like: animals can talk, there is a cake that will make you shrink and a drink that will make you grow, and cats can disappear.  

I decided that for us, there are three different types of "impossible" things.  (There may be more, but this is what I came up with.)

1. The first kind are more like affirmations or a way to try to convince ourselves that something that seems impossible can actually happen.  Examples: "My hair will do what I want it to do today." "I can lose those last few pounds!"

2. The second type of impossible things are reminders of things that we've already accomplished (formerly in the type 1 category) that encourage us in the next seemingly impossible task that faces us.  Examples: "If I made it through that last blind date, I can certainly survive this one."  "I ran two miles yesterday, I can do it again today!"

3. The final sort are things that you just cannot believe are happening/have happened.  Examples: "New Kids on the Block did a reunion tour and I saw them!" (True...!)  "A man walked on the moon!"  (Hoax?)

Having finished grad school in December, I'm now faced with the daunting task of...life!  Getting a job, finding my place in the world outside of being a student, and deciding where to live all seem like a Jabberwocky in front of me.

This is where Alice's practice comes in.  I try to remind myself of impossible things - things I've accomplished, affirmations, amazing facts, whatever it takes!  Here are a few of my Impossible Things:

1. I served a mission for my church for a year and a half in Thailand.  This included learning to read, write, and speak Thai and I was allowed to talk on the phone to my family only twice a year.

2. I survived grad school, and now I have a Bachelor's and a Master's degree, both in a field that I love.

3. Planes can fly.  (I know there are scientific explanations for this, but isn't it still CRAZY?!?)

4. I saw New Kids on the Block in concert last year. (Yes, I already mentioned this, but MAN, that was an awesome concert!)

5. I got a job the week I graduated with my Bachelor's degree, in my field!  (It can happen again, right?!)

When I think of these impossible things, much like when Alice was about to fight the Jabberwocky, I gain a little perspective and hope.  If these things are possible, then why not what I'm facing??  Finding a job in my field doesn't seem quite so much like a monster I can't defeat.  

So, as I face the monster of all the challenges that lay ahead, I quote Alice:

OFF WITH ITS HEAD!