I took the IMPACT Core class in 1995. So that was…. seven
years ago? No, wait. Seventeen years ago. Ugh. (What happened to the last
decade?)
My intent was to be able to travel throughout the US, on the
Greyhound Bus and the Green Tortoise, with a greater sense of safety, without
resorting to carrying a weapon.
I got so much more out of IMPACT than that, in subtle ways.
I learned to de-fuse and deescalate situations. On the el, walking home, in the
office, in art and dance studios, riding my bike in traffic, arguing with my
mother—all are opportunities to apply the lessons in setting boundaries, saying
no, and bringing awareness.
When I first got my new job, I was torn between being nice,
and fulfilling my responsibility of delivering products on time and within
budget. I could understand my coworkers’ insistence on design perfection and
quality content. However, this was gumming up the works. We were outputting
only rarely a tangible result. I exercised the IMPACT “NO!” I learned to insist on what I felt was best,
even if I wasn’t making friends in the workplace. I assumed the consequences of
my decisions, and though I took some snubs, I feel more confident
professionally.
Have you noticed how, when you’re happy and light-hearted,
people of all ilk, the joyous hopeful ones but also the miserable ones, are
drawn to you? After several strangers and quite a few acquaintances pressed me
into saving them and improving their morale, I realized what was going on. I
had to draw a line. I firmly told them that I would not be manipulated, made to
feel guilty, or embarrassed into taking care of them or healing their emotional
wounds. I can’t be responsible for someone else’s happiness. Just as in the
IMPACT classroom fights, it’s OK to stand up for myself, and to live for me
first.
What I have now is a choice—to engage, to walk away, to
resist, to surrender, to coil then spring forth. It’s my choice, and no one can
take it away from me.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to use any of the
kicks and strikes in all these years, because no one has mugged me quite as
well as the classroom muggers used to!
Ann-Christine Racette
Evanston, Illinois
January 2012
Word of mouth is the most effective tool we have because it
is a message born of experience, conveyed with firm belief, out of concern and
respect for the recipient.
IMPACT--pass it on!
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