What Would Make You Attempt The Impossible?
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”
What Would Make You Attempt The Impossible?
This is coming from a guy who's not married, but I get the sense that most people marry with the intention of being partners for life. You found the person that understands you (and still loves you). You're not the same with anyone else. Your partner gets you in all your raw glory. They push your buttons with the expertise of an untouchable high score in Pacman. No relationship escapes the blood, sweat and tears that come from the oddly neurotic lives we all live. Yet, who would you be without that person in your life? Would your sense of purpose be lost? For Dashrath Manji, the near death of his wife set him on a quest to attempt the impossible.
Danjhi's wife spent countless hours in the hills by their house. Trekking the rocky footpaths was a way of life. A treacherous way to travel the unforgiving countryside but without options, a necessity.
A day like any other, walking the paths she knew like the back of her hand, Danjhi's wife slipped down an embankment. She was at the mercy of time and distance for help. The closest hospital was a 70km adventure around the mountains.
If only those mountains weren't there, Danjhi must have thought to himself. He shocked his fellow villagers with what he did next.
Danjhi had three goats to his name. They were soon sold and replaced with a hammer and chisel. Minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, year-by-year, decade-by-decade, he carved the impossible, a road through the mountain.
It might not have been the quickest plan but it gave his life purpose. He almost lost the love of his life. He would see that no one else in his village would live with this fear.
After twenty-two exhausting years, hands calloused through tireless dedication, he heard the last crack of rock under his hammer and chisel. Behind him was proof that anyone is capable of the impossible.
Because of his life's work, the distance to life-saving-services was reduced from 70km to just 1km.
It's only impossible till it's possible.
PS - There’s a six-minute documentary called The Man Who Broke A Mountain Alone.
Cindy Crawford talks to Sam Jones about how the death of her younger brother impacted her family and what it taught her about happiness.
