Opportunity.

Opportunities are constantly uncovering themselves all around us. They are not something you just stumble upon. They are something you earn. Every opportunity you have been given is the result of your actions and decisions.


 You. Are. Successful. 


This success is rooted in the subtleties of life. Every person you meet, impression you make, and effort you give toward each situation life throws at you greatly influences the opportunities that you are offered. Weigh the outcomes. Choose what is best for you. If you decide that taking this opportunity will not be what is right for you, be patient. Your time will come.


 More importantly than being offered opportunities is the ability to uphold the duties that are inherited when you accept these new responsibilities. Take love for example. When given the opportunity to show, accept, or give love to someone it is not just an opportunity, it is a responsibility. All relationships are two-way streets. Loving someone gives you the responsibility to care for, comfort, and empathize and communicate with that other person. Audrey Hepburn once said, “People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” We must care for those around us. Every relationship we begin is an opportunity to learn, grow, and expand knowledge of ourselves. Take responsibility. Work to maintain the blessings that you have been given and be open minded to others.


 During a discussion with a Buddhist monk yesterday, he explained one of their main teachings: the present is the only time that matters. The past is over and the future hasn't come. The present is where your focus should be. The biggest myth that revolves around opportunity is the "Once in a Lifetime" opportunity. If you live life waiting for that "Once in a Lifetime" opportunity, you will miss everything that the present has to offer. Time is constantly ticking on and on. Moments go by that you can never replace. Use your time wisely, take opportunities, make a name for yourself, and have a blast with no regrets. Regrets are the result of mistakes, missed opportunities, unhealthy decisions, and worst of all, wasted time.


The last point I would like to make is that you are an amazing person. Nonetheless, that does not mean that you shouldn't take every opportunity you can to change yourself for the better. The process of improving yourself can be a stressful and difficult thing to do. Pay attention to the present, seek opportunities to learn valuable lessons, and take responsibility for your actions. Opportunities are all around you.
<3 Al