During our training for this mission, we had plenty of official meetings and classes, and the work was pretty intense. But there were times when small groups of us would meet with Dr. Zimmer, and he’d simply talk to us about…well, about life, I guess.

He never meant the meetings to be heavy, and in fact I remember lots of laughter as we sat around in the park, or in the campus dining hall, or wherever. Yet I usually picked up something that helped me personally.

Something stands out from one of our last meetings. We’d had a good talk as a group, with most people chiming in to add their own thoughts, and things were about to wrap up. Then Dr. Zimmer began to quietly talk about what made us different, what made us stand out from the other applicants for Galahad. Of course, all of us fell silent as he spoke.

He talked about the choices that we all have to make in life. Not specific choices, but more about how we, as individuals, go about choosing our paths. What struck me the most was how he talked about choosing between the easy path, and the more challenging one. He felt that each of us on Galahad were the type to consistently avoid the easy out; he was convinced that we were successful because we pushed ourselves to excel, to explore the more challenging routes in life.

As I look back on all of the choices I’ve made in my life, I can’t help but think that he’s right. Taking the easy way out would probably have shaped my life in ways I wouldn’t recognize now. It’s confidence, Dr. Zimmer said, that gives us the belief that we can overcome the difficult tasks. And, the more we challenge ourselves, the more we see the personal rewards that result.

I understand well enough to know that it doesn’t mean choosing impossible goals; it means having the faith in myself to give just a little more, to reach a little higher, and to pull myself up to new heights each time. Nothing beats that feeling.

(So, Galahad fans, what do you think? Would Triana have been the Council Leader on this mission if she’d always found an easy out in her life? Have you found yourself faced with those same choices? How did you react? What did you learn? What do you think you gain from challenging yourself, versus taking the easy way out? Your comments, as always, are welcome here at Club Galahad! And be sure to share this site with all of your friends!)