I was watching a popular PBS television series recently and one of the characters said how sometimes we need a ladder person to help us achieve our potential. One of their family members, unbeknownst to the rest of them, had done that for someone.
That scene sat with me for a few days and then I thought about the classic children’s board game that came out in the 1940’s, Chutes and Ladders.
In the game, each person spins an arrow on a spinner and whatever number they land on is how many squares their playing piece moves. If they land on a square that contains the first rung of a ladder, the player advances a few or even several squares, elevating their position in the game to possibly become the winner by being the first player to land on the final square.
However, the spin could also have the player land on a chute. This causes them to slide back down a few or even a whole bunch of squares. The chutes and ladders are of different sizes, so how far someone advances or falls varies.
If we’re lucky, we’ve had someone in our life assist us by providing a ladder opportunity, or be the ladder to help us achieve our potential or goal.
I know I have. Years ago, after I started the process to begin formal training to perform ultrasounds, our local school closed. Someone I worked with saw my desire and potential and trained me on the job. It was hard work, but I achieved my goal and had a very successful twenty-three-year career before moving on to a different path. What she did for me and my family is something I treasure and will never be forgotten.
Ladder people could also be someone who is generous in their kindness and caring and that alone elevates us. I hope you have a few of those in your life. On the flip side, we probably have “chute” people in our lives that sometimes bring us down.
I encourage you, in the game of life, strive to be a ladder person.
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