Can’t remember if it was in the prior post that I wrote about opportunities or not but it doesn’t matter because I’ll tap the keg now and sip upon it for a moment or two.
In a different life a woman told me that our circumstances were bad and that we wouldn’t be able to have a discussion about anything until we were in our fifties.
I said so what and she told me that men wouldn’t look at a woman of that age because we always went for younger.
When you are in your twenties something like that makes sense because even 40 sounds old and let’s face it, you could be 38 and 51 would sound ancient.
Age really is relative and life experience impacts so much of how we see the world and our place in it.
Forty-five was a rough year for me, one that sticks out as having been particularly onerous and challenging. I wouldn’t want to do it over but if you asked me if I would like to be 45 again the answer is sort of because I like the idea of trimming eight years off.
Not because I want to relive that year but I want to take the experience I have gained and apply it earlier which is to say that if I could really trim some years off I would go back farther.
Can’t do that so we go with what we have and accept that opportunity doesn’t come when it is convenient and timely for you.
Opportunity comes when it does and you take a swing or miss out and accept that you passed.
Weekend Reminders
Had a couple of moments this past weekend that highlighted some of this for me. Moments where I caught myself smiling and moments where I was cursing because I was frustrated.
Took a deep breath while I considered all that was before me and thought about how many times I have heard people say things like “what is for you won’t go past you.”
Sounds good and to an extent I believe in it and the idea that is what is meant to be will be.
But I also believe that we have to take action to turn possibility into opportunity and that Edison was right in his position.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Editor’s Note: I know there is a question about whether old Tom said this or if it was someone else. If it bothers you ignore the attribution and focus on the quote because it makes sense.
The point here is simple, some of the best opportunities come with complications and challenges and you have to be willing to put in work.
Sometimes you have to walk through fire for a bit and or at least deal with some heat.
That shouldn’t be viewed as a bad thing or stumbling block nor does it mean one shouldn’t evaluate what is required to get the reward you seek.
Cue the Boss,
Grab your ticket and your suitcase
Thunder’s rolling down this track
Well you don’t know where you’re goin’ now
But you know you won’t be back
Well darlin’ if you’re weary
Lay your head upon my chest
We’ll take what we can carry
Yeah, and we’ll leave the rest
Who You Know & Who Knows You
The midterm results are being announced and it is a rough evening in some respects because it is clear that some hopes and dreams will stay as they are.
But there are flickers of light and glimpses of streets that might not be paved with gold but could be with a little work.
There are signs that provide more than just hope for our children and ourselves but the prize won’t be just handed to us or to them.
We’re going to have to work for some of it and it is not always going to be easy. We’re going to have to take some risks to figure it all out and that definitely requires going down the road not taken.
So we’re going to have to look hard at who we know and who knows us.
We’re going to have to figure out who we are willing to share our most intimate thoughts and risk leaning upon them even when it is scary.
Because that is where we’ll find the strength to push on and the hope we don’t always see or recognize.
It is not always in the secret kingdom, sometimes it is sitting right next to you or standing in front of you in the most obvious places.
“Ohh, yes, this train carries saints and sinners
This train carries losers and winners
This train carries whores and gamblers
This train carries lost souls
I said, this train carries broken-hearted
This train, thieves and sweet souls departed
This train carries fools and kings
This train, all aboard”
Thank you Bruce, your music provides a lift and inspiration for stories, ideas and so much more.
