Beyond the Aspirations: The Stories We Don't See

When we asked people what they were REACHing for, I found myself thinking about some of the responses, such as:

Graduation. Stability. Discipline. Self-love. Putting “Dr.” in front of a name. Sharing a story with the world.

At first glance, they’re simply goals and aspirations. But I couldn’t help wondering about the experiences behind some of those answers.

Not saying that this speaks to their experience, but what does stability mean to someone who’s spent much of their life without it?

What does self-love look like for someone who’s spent years putting everyone else’s needs before their own?

And what does earning a doctorate represent to someone who may have once questioned whether college was even possible?

We don’t know what led anyone to share those particular aspirations. And that’s what makes me think about how easily we can overlook the depth of another person’s experience.

We see what people are working toward, but we don’t always see what they’ve had to work through.

And sometimes, we don’t even give ourselves enough credit for that part of our own journey.

Think about something you’re currently REACHing for. What experiences have shaped that desire, and what have you already overcome to get this far?

Until next time,

Keep REACHing...