Merryl Tengesdal’s book, “Shatter the Sky,” is more than just a memoir; it’s a manifesto for dreaming big and breaking barriers. The title itself is a powerful statement against settling for the conventional and a call to reach for the extraordinary. In discussing the genesis of this evocative title, Tengesdal reveals not only her personal journey but also her philosophy on life and achievement.
The title “Shatter the Sky” was born out of a conversation with a friend and a reflection on the commonly used phrase “breaking glass ceilings.” Tengesdal explains her dissatisfaction with this phrase, feeling that it sets the bar too low. For her, ceilings represent limitations, and breaking through them doesn’t quite capture the essence of her aspirations or experiences. As a U-2 pilot who literally soared beyond the sky, her ambitions were always set higher than any proverbial ceiling.
Tengesdal’s book is a collection of vignettes that shaped her life, revealing her private side, her challenges, and her triumphs. She shares these stories not to highlight her uniqueness but to show her relatability. Her message is clear: everyone has their own set of challenges and idiosyncrasies, but these should not define or limit us.
“Shatter the Sky” is a metaphor for Tengesdal’s belief in limitless potential. She encourages readers to aim beyond the sky, to dream beyond the stars. This philosophy is deeply personal to her, reflecting her own aspirations of becoming an astronaut and going beyond the atmosphere. The title encapsulates her belief that we should not just aim to break through barriers but to completely obliterate them, to shatter the sky.
Tengesdal’s message is empowering and inspiring. She implores her readers to think big, so big that it scares them, and then to have the courage to pursue those dreams. She emphasizes that the journey itself, the act of striving for something greater, is beautiful and worthwhile.
In conclusion, “Shatter the Sky” is more than just a title for Merryl Tengesdal’s book; it’s a philosophy for life. It’s about rejecting the limitations imposed by society and ourselves, and daring to dream and achieve the seemingly impossible. Tengesdal’s journey and her words are a powerful reminder to go out and shatter our own skies, to dream big, and to never let anyone’s limited perspective define our potential.
