实现遥不可及的梦想　Realizing Impossible Dreams

So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.

～Christopher Reeve

Recently, for the first time in five years I made a seemingly simple resolution. I went out back, put my cane down, and started walking.I made it forty-two yards.That“simple”resolution evolved into something quite powerful and life-changing.

Today I walked five miles.

My medical team had said this would be impossible. My brain could no longer send the signals for walking because those nerves in my spinal cord had been destroyed.Though certainly unintentional, my doctors did take something very important away from me：hope.

A while back, a psychologist pal of mine urged me to try to help myself. I was angry.I said，“They're four of Boston's leading neurologists.They all said I'd never get any better.”

“They could have all been wrong.”

“They said there's nothing I can do！No rehabilitation. No physical therapy.I'm not putting any effort into trying to walk and then be miserable when I fail.”

“Trying is never failure.”

I'd get steaming mad at people like her. What did they know?And they came out in droves.I heard various things I should try：a soy-based diet, massage, yoga, acupuncture, positive thinking.All of these well-meaning non-experts believed that traditional medical doctors do not know everything about human potential.

However, there was a common denominator in my friends' advice. And that was the word“Try.”

What made me finally resolve to try?The answer is simpler than I'd have ever imagined. That day I tried walking on my own, I said to myself，“Why not?”

When I walk I have a Frankenstein-style gait. I get embarrassed so I explain.I met a gal who said，“Stop excusing yourself.Walk proudly！”She's just one of the many who've taught me that if I open my heart to acceptance, the world is filled with support teams.

I've also resolved to open my obstinate mind and really listen to others, experts or not. This not only fosters my own sometimes-frail belief in my abilities；it fosters faith in miracles.

One morning my husband, Bob, said there was a huge present for me in our driveway. He had researched“bicycles for disabled people”.It was a 300-pound cycle for two.The seats were side by side.He could pedal while I sat by him and enjoyed the outdoors again.

Um……did I mention it came assembled with a set of pedals for me too?

Now, hundreds of miles later, after exhausting hours of pedaling along beautiful bike trails, I only wish that we owned stock in Ben-Gay.

Bob needs a tube a day to keep up with me.

Last week he repeated，“There's a huge present in our driveway.”Heled me outside.“Voila！”he said.“Oh God，”I moaned. Bob dubbed it“The One-Woman Dynamo Power Bike”.

“Sweetheart?You know I can't ride a bike on my own.”

He laughed sweetly.“I know. And you can't walk either.Then why does the pedometer I bought you have seventy-four miles on it?”

And so, I made a now often repeated silent resolution-a declaration that I am praying others will say to themselves as well.“Yes. I can.”

Do you think I love my bike?You bet. Think I love Bob?Of course.Think I love life again after cloistering myself in a self-imposed no-can-do closet?Oy！You have to ask?

How do we find hope when hope seems impossible?Do we simply believe in our hearts, our minds and our very souls that we can beat the odds?

Yes.

Christopher Reeve said，“When we have hope, we discover powers within ourselves we may have never known. Once we choose hope, everything is possible.”

His immutable words still ring in my heart and I so hope they will in everyone else's：“And you don't have to be a‘Superman'to do it.”

～Saralee Perel

有些梦想起初看起来遥不可及，接着觉得不切实际，

一旦我们下定决心，这些梦想就触手可及。

——克里斯托夫·里夫4

最近，我立下了五年来的第一个决心，尽管这个决心看似简单。我从外面散步回来，放下拐杖，试着独立行走。我竟然不拄拐杖走了42码5。

这个“小小”的决心带来的变化是巨大的，我的生活因此而改变。

今天，我能不拄拐杖走五英里6。

医护人员跟我说这是完全不可能的。我的大脑中枢已经无法发送出行走的信号了，因为传输这些信号的脊髓神经已经坏死。虽然医者无心，但他们从我身上夺走了一样很重要的东西：希望。

前一段时间，一个心理学家朋友鼓动我尝试独立行走。我当时火冒三丈地跟她说：“给我确诊的可是波士顿的四位头号神经学家。他们一致诊断我的病症已经无力回天了。”

“也有可能他们都错了呢？”

“他们说我的病已经无药可救了！我已经康复无望。没有任何物理疗法可以治疗我。我才不会费劲试着独立行走呢，万一摔出来个三长两短怎么办？”

“不试试看怎么知道不行呢？”

我对像她这样的人感到很恼火。她们懂什么呀？我见过不止一两个这样的人。他们跟我唠叨个不停：多吃豆类食品、做按摩、练瑜伽、针灸、积极心态。这些连江湖郎中都不算的人觉得传统医生不了解人类的全部潜能。

朋友七嘴八舌，但是有一点是一致的，那就是：尝试。

是什么让我最后放手一搏呢？答案比我想象的都简单。那天我对自己说了一句：“试一试又怎样呢？”就这样我试着不拄拐杖行走了。

刚丢下拐杖的时候，走路的步子就跟怪物法兰肯斯坦一样。我觉得局促不安，窘迫得厉害，我解释说自己腿脚不灵活。一天，我碰到一个朋友，她跟我说：“别给自己找借口，挺起胸膛走路！”身边很多像她这样的人让我明白了一个道理：只要我敞开心扉去接纳，身边的人都会给予支持。

我决定改改自己的死脑筋，多听听别人怎么说——不管是不是专家。我有时会怀疑自己的能力，但是种种思维方式的转变坚定了对自己能力的信心，同时也让我相信奇迹的存在。

一天早晨，老伴鲍勃说给我准备了一份大礼，就放在家里的车道上。原来老伴在研究“残疾人专用自行车”。他给我买了一辆300磅7重的双人自行车。车上并排有两个座位。有了这辆车，老伴可以坐在旁边骑车，带我出门体验户外生活。

呃……车上还为我安装了一双踏板，我刚才提到了吗？

现在，我们两人出去骑上几十英里，在美丽的自行车道蹬上几小时，累得筋疲力尽之后，我只希望家里还有止痛膏。

为了能跟上我的进度，鲍勃每天得用上一管止痛膏。

上周，老伴又跟我说：“我给你准备了另一份厚礼，就在车道上。”

他把我带出门外，“看！”他叫道。我埋怨道：“妈呀！你这是干什么？”鲍勃管这东西叫“女式单人发电脚踏车”。

“老家伙，你知道我一个人骑不了自行车的。”

鲍勃甜蜜地笑了：“我知道啊。你也不能走路啊，可为什么我给你买的那台计步器显示的数字都快74英里8了？”

就是因为这个，我现在经常暗下决心，勉励自己，不断告诉自己——是的，我行。同时，我也希望别人自我勉励，对自己说：“是的，我行！”

你觉得我喜欢自己的自行车吗？当然。我爱鲍勃吗？那是自然。你们觉得我喜欢自己故步自封，陷入妄自菲薄的束缚之中吗？哎！这还用问吗？

当梦想看起来遥不可及的时候，怎样才能找到希望？我们问一下自己的内心、理智和灵魂，真的相信自己能够超越常规吗？

是的，我们能。

克里斯托夫·里夫曾经说过：“人一旦有了希望，就能发掘巨大的内在潜力。一旦选择相信，一切皆有可能。”

这句亘古不变的箴言仍然在我的心头回荡，我也希望这句话能够走进所有人的心扉。记住：“即便不是‘超人’，我们也能做得到。”

——萨拉莉·佩雷尔