When Goals Beyond Reach Are Better

Achievements Are Often Superior When They Are Hard Up Front

At the grocery store this weekend I participated in the dreaded “product at the back of the top shelf challenge.” I was in the cereal aisle at the time, and the box I intended to put in my cart was way out of my reach. Being of average stature was not the issue, most anyone save a member of a basketball squad would not have been able to reach the object of my desire. I realized I had a problem: how do I leave here with that thing if I can’t reach it?

At first I figured to ask for help, but memories of unanswered overhead pages at the local home improvement places made me think twice. So, what then? A tool was what I needed, clearly, but of what sort? A quick assessment had me conclude that really my need was minimal. The box was beyond reach because it sat there as upright as a billboard, proudly announcing its contents with an enlarged to show texture image. But were it laying on its face, well then, it would’ve been just about close enough to the edge to grab.

Looking around, I thought to myself that I needed something longish and thin, but sturdy. Turns out the yard sticks aren’t across from the Grape Nuts at this particular location, so I was not going to solve the problem with the first thought that crossed my mind. I needed to reassess. If I could tip the thing over, then I could get to it without climbing up onto the lowest shelf, something I kept contemplating but not doing since I knew it could be the start of the story about how I got that scar.

And then it dawned on me, practically everything I could see in front of me was sufficient to get the job done. I grabbed a box, toppled the one I wanted forward with it, scooted it a little towards me, and I had it. This whole thing played out in maybe 20 seconds, but while in progress it felt forever. But it takes as long as it takes, and it’s in those instances when the first thing one tries doesn’t work that we often come up with our best solutions, if only because we have to be a bit more inventive.

And for what it’s worth, the cereal I used to get my item was LIFE.