Every weekday morning I wake up at 4:20 am, a few minutes before my alarm is scheduled to go off. I rub my eyes, hop out of bed and make my way downstairs to the bathroom. As my eyes adjust to the light, the first thing I see as I pick up the toothpaste is a reminder of how fortunate I have been, and how hard I've worked to capitalize on these “lucky” circumstances.
About 10 years ago I decided I wanted a tattoo. A heart with “mother” written across it was out. Not that I don't love my mother with every fiber of my being, but I find other ways to show my appreciation without having to look like my uncle Seymour returning from WW2. Anything tribal, barbed wire, or oriented on my lower back was also put in the “no” column. I grew up in CT, my friends would never let me live it down.
As I was pondering what I wanted, I was skimming through Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques by Steve Nison. At the beginning of every chapter there was a quotation in Kanji that was relevant to the topic discussed. As I made my way through the book, one really resonated with me. It was translated, “Make use of your opportunities”(Do your laundry while the master(Ogre) is away). I found my tattoo. I had it put on my wrist small enough that any 20mm watchband would cover it. It's for me, not for public consumption.
It's a reminder that life is constantly giving us chances to better ourselves. we just have to be receptive to them. I've found it's too easy to cruise through life on autopilot, accepting things as they come because it's comfortable. Sometimes opportunities seem scary. Sometimes they come in disguise as tragedy. The key is to be receptive to these twists of fate, and then to work hard to use them to your advantage.
Try this: I want you to look around the room and notice everything that's red. Spend 30 seconds doing this. Notice everything. Do it.
Now close your eyes. and point around the room to everything that's blue.
Tough right?
If you are constantly focusing your attention on “red,” you will inevitably miss the things that are blue.
Opportunities are continually presenting themselves. the key is to open your eyes, see them for what they are, and decide whether they are worth capitalizing on. Perhaps your reminder will be the sunrise. The smile on your child's face. Those first few deep breaths when you wake up. Find something that reminds you of all the possibilities that there are in this world, and be prepared to work hard to turn those possibilities into reality.