The Escalator Challenge
Building resilience, one ride at a time
I'm going up on the same escalator for the seventh time in 10 minutes. Standing beside me is my little 6-year-old daughter, Minh-Anh.
It all started a few months ago during our family trip to Seattle. As we navigated the crowded airport, Minh-Anh's eyes widened with excitement as she stepped onto the escalator to go from the second floor to the first floor. But in a split second, her excitement turned to fear. She lost her balance and fell, her tiny hands grasping for something to hold onto. I was busy juggling our carry-on luggage, but luckily, I caught her by the shirt collar and pulled her back up. The incident left us all shaken, and we resorted to using the lift or staircase for many months after instead.
Fast forward to this family trip to Singapore, where escalators are everywhere and the most convenient way to go up and down the train stations, Minh-Anh decided to face her fears head-on. "Can we take the train instead of taxis?" Minh-Anh asked, her voice filled with excitement. "I want to ride the escalators!" Her eyes sparkled as she begged us to take her to different stations, each one a new challenge to overcome.
I didn't want to take the train. Singapore's weather was humid and hot. Taking the train means that we will need to walk the last mile to our destinations. I'm not so keen on walking in this weather, especially when the cost of taking a taxi is about the same as the train cost for the whole family. Yet, I'm dragged to take the train for my little girl's sake, and I'm dragged to go up and down on many escalators just so she can practice her skills.
As I watched Minh-Anh ride the escalator in Singapore, I felt a surge of pride and admiration for my little girl. Minh-Anh's story was not just about overcoming a fear of escalators – it was about the power of resilience and determination. It was about showing up, even when it's hard, having a plan to work through it, and not letting anyone stand in the way.
Minh-Anh's journey inspired me to work on my own storytelling skills. I have always wanted to get better at storytelling, but I've been too afraid to try. For years, I've been compensating for my lack of storytelling skills by leaning into my problem-solving and data analytic skills. But now, I'm tackling it head-on.
What about you? What skills have you been wanting to improve, and what's your plan to work on them?