People are always asking me why the number “22” is so special to me. Before I explain why, let me ask you this: have you ever had a goal that was so burning bright that you just HAD to accomplish it?
I started waterskiing when I was nine years old. My father came home with an old, yellow boat. Just like that. Out of the blue. He didn’t even discuss boat ownership with my mom. Included with the boat were a pair of wooden water skis and a ski belt. A belt, mind you. None of those fancy molded water ski jackets. Just a floatation belt.
My father took my mom, sis and me out to a local lake in Indiana one evening. None of us knew anything about waterskiing. I don’t think my father even knew much about running a boat, much less pulling a skier. I strapped on the skis and I was hooked. I liked waterskiing.
I was eleven when my parents bought the place on Christie Lake. Dad got rid of the yellow boat and bought a cute little red boat. After a few years of waterskiing and learning to slalom, I had a burning desire to learn to barefoot. I kept watching the guys (including my brother) zip around the lake on their bare feet. There weren’t any other girls barefooting on the lake. I picked up an issue of Waterskiing
I read the book from cover to cover. I also set a goal: that I was going to barefoot by the end of that summer. I had just turned sixteen that August.
The first time I tried it, I planted my foot in the water and kicked off the ski. Wham! I tried again and again over several days. I kept slamming into the water. I decided to try a different method with a kneeboard. I dragged my Mom to the local boat shop and begged her to buy a kneeboard. It was $109– a lot of money back then. I came home and tried out the kneeboard. The first several tries didn’t work. I was really frustrated. I went home and felt really discouraged.
That night, I lay awake trying to figure out why I couldn’t do it. I closed my eyes and suddenly visualized myself completing each step in the book. I imagined how great it would feel to have the board drop away and the water beneath my feet.
The next day was August 22. The day that I finally learned to barefoot.
So the number 22 has stayed with me since then. Not so much because of the accomplishment, but because of the lesson behind it–the power of visualization. If you can see yourself accomplishing something, you can do it. I use the number 22 to remind me to stay on track, to visualize what I want to accomplish.
How about you? Have you ever used visualization and had it lead to success? Do you have a special number that reminds you to accomplish something?
Comments
7 responses to “The Power of Visualization and the Power of a Number”
Great story, Karen! I now understand the significance of your email address.
The process for writing and self-publishing my autobiography was somewhat similar. Visualizing the final product kept me going.
Hi Karen,
Great story! I also use visualization – it’s what led me to finding my soulmate, and living on the French Riviera doing what I believe I was meant to do – writing. But that’s not all…When my youngest son was 5, he ate a piece of bad meat at a restaurant and got ecoli – but was misdiagnosed and because of the wrong treatment, he spent 28 days in the hospital fighting for his life.
He ended up with a very serious chronic illness that was triggered by being so sick – and he has spent the last 11 years fighting it. I started teaching him visualization techniques when he was 6 – to help him learn to fight the pain because I didn’t want him having to use painkillers for the rest of his life.
Visualization has helped him to fight the disease as well as the pain – his doctors are constantly amazed that when he has serious infections – with white cell counts high enough that they expect he is going to need surgery – when they do the GI scans – they always show it’s not so bad after all – and he’s able to be treated with medication instead.
I think you gave a perfect example of how you can achieve anything you want if you visualize yourself succeeding – and then are willing to take action and do the “footwork” to make it happen.
I just discovered your blog through one of your tweets – so I’m bookmarking it so I can keep up with what you’re doing!
Warmly,
Cheryl
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I’m not much of a visualizer (visualizor?). I’m more of a fantasizer (Fantasizor?). This, of course, takes me FAR beyond the realms of visualization into, well, fantasy. I’d be barefooting without a boat, ya know?
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What a great piece – thanks for sharing it Karen. To be honest I’ve always struggled with visualisation but have recently discovered the book ‘write it down, make it happen’ – it works on the same principle, but you write it down rather than visualise it. In great detail – exactly how you see things panning out, or what your ideal scenario would be (plus how it would be good… for you and the wider universe).
Joanna
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Super story, Karen! I still yearn to try water skiing, but haven’t made the opportunity — I know I could make it happen… but I guess others got in the way first. Visualization is a powerful tool and your example proves it.
I visualized my son would come home after school every day instead of go to the after school program. I did it when he went in 1st grade. Now that my baby is in kindergarten — both boys come home after school. My oldest gets home so late now being a freshman in high school. She just hides in her room like a teen.
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Wow Karen! You can teach me a thing or two! I’ve always loved being barefoot, but never once visualized myself skiing barefoot! Or even skiing for that matter!
My greatest goal was to be a mom (and didn’t really believe that it was possible); but God granted that request with 2 children – a girl & a boy – my 2 miracles! It’s a huge miracle because I have lived in daily chronic pain since age 14. Being able to enjoy 2 pregnancies with NO pain meds was a total delight!
I too, like the #22, but only because it is my birth day! (Which is right around the corner) And no, I’m not 22 years old! lol
One goal that hasn’t come to fruition is the writing of my biography…some day…
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