Photo by Sebastian Klein on Unsplash
We all request something from religious deities, ourselves, the universe, science, or just the essence of life itself. Dreams and aspirations are our way of asking life, “hey, can you give me this?” Or demanding saying, “I want this”. Life’s own way of answering is if you are lucky enough it gives you on a platter, served right; if you're one of the unlucky ones, your dreams are denied. But, most times, life gives opportunities—your turn to have a go at it.
Do you ever think that an opportunity can kill you?
Not in the physical sense but mentally.
SAÚL THE FISHERMAN
Saúl was always at sea, he would always watch how jets zoom over him and was amazed at the speed and aerodynamics of the beautiful beast. Saúl sort to tame it, or so he dreamed, but all he owned was a small fishing boat.
This fishing boat was how he made a living his entire life, now his fantasies cajoled him into thinking that he was ready to step out of his comfort zone—apparently, YOLO. One blasé night, while he was out fishing, admiring the dark clear skies filled with burning bright stars, as he gazed into space, a wishing star whooshed by, It was the moment he had waited for all his life. With high expectations, predictably, Saúl wished for his own jet so he could soar the skies and conquer gravity. He slept so soundly that night like a newborn babe.
Suddenly! Saúl woke up to the loud sound of jets flying too close for comfort, a dozen of them flying in circles around him like vultures waiting for his death.
was he dreaming?
The possibility that his wishes would come truly clouded the fear in his heart, the fear that he knew all too well. He let out a big smile with the wind on his face, and hands in the air, shouting.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I have got mine now!
Then a jet broke the ring and circled further back in an attempt to land. Saúl in his ecstatic and ascetic state forgot about his reality, and as the jet approached, his joy, like white canvas was blemished with a splash of hot red disillusion, but by then it was too late.
By the time he realized it was just a fishing boat he had as a landing pad, the jet had landed and destroyed his boat, his only means of livelihood. Thanks to adrenaline, Saúl survived and to this day has never wished to soar the sky again.
The death of a dream.
THE GRANDE ASK
Waiting for an opportunity is like waiting on quicksand, if you do not move, you get stuck and if you decide to carry something too heavy, you get pulled down and get stuck. All our lives we say, I want to be this, now the opportunity has come, your shoulders and back are weak, muscles malnourished, and the weight of the opportunity is so heavy you can't move forward—the grande ask—your opportunity has you stuck in your tracks.
The ardor of being small and wanting big things can be dangerous,
Ne mords pas plus que tu ne mâches—don’t bite more than you can chew.
Assumingly being in a relationship with opportunity, it would be convenient to say “I’m sorry, this can’t work out I feel we met too early perhaps later in the future we can work things out”. There’s a saying, opportunity comes but once, In my own argot, I think this statement should be:
opportunities come all the time, but opportunity comes but once.
The statement is vague, but what I mean is that in life there will be a lot of opportunities but the ones that change the course of your life are rare. Shattering illusions can cripple one’s mind cause all the while, the illusion has served as crutches for one to stand tall. When one misuses an opportunity they have been waiting for, it’s honestly disheartening and it takes a lot to get back again and chase the same thing—like Saúl who gave up on seeing the skies for himself.
CHOOSE
What differentiates us from those who ask for big things and manage them when they arrive and those who ask for the same thing and underutilize them?
The axiomatic truth is that most people are not prepared for the opportunity they ask for. For instance, there was a girl called Agnes, she was a brilliant vocalist and singer. Her dream was to beatify the world with her singing—even Whitney Houston would be green with envy.
Eventually, she was invited to sing at a club. Finally, it was Agnes’ big break. She got set for the night that would change her life, she got there and watched other acts. Eventually, it was her turn to dazzle the crowd. She got on stage and was immediately stunned by the crowd’s Medusa’s gaze—she didn’t know she had stage fright. She stood there shaking and what was supposed to be the best night of her life turned into a behemoth disaster. It was a big reality check to be cashed at the bank of disappointment.
After that day Agnes began to work on her fear of stages and would take public speaking classes, perform for small groups, and so on… Agnes prepared for the second coming of her big break.
Would she get it or not?
That question is up to Agnes as preparing for opportunities is up to you. Missing a big opportunity will make or mar you, you can either be like Agnes and prepare for the advent of another opportunity or Saúl, who gave up on his dreams.
Whatever you choose, The Choice is Yours.
The beginning justifies the end. There's always hope (opportunity) at the end. Much love man, I love your writings soo much!!!
This is a big lesson to me. Everyone should read this piece.