What If You Only Have One Chance
Don’t Screw It Up
Something important is on the line. It’s something that, if you act on it, you will be set for the next 15 years of your life. That’s important. This could be a quarter of your life. What is it? It could be anything.
It could be you earning a high school diploma. It could be you passing a class. It could be the answer to whether you are going to go left or you are going to go right.
A lot might hinge on this one task being successful.
Everybody has been there. Everybody knows what it feels like. This is one of those times when you are faced with a fork in the road.
No matter which way you go, there are a lot of people out there who would think nothing of sabotaging your chances to do something good with your life if it can get them that one spot. Don’t be jealous of them. So what if they feel so entitled that everything will go their way? You do the same thing. You, no matter what your circumstances are, can have that attitude that nothing stands in your way.
I’ve done it before the many times I’ve gone looking for work. Beats me how it works. It works. You take a deep breath, breathe in confidence, and breathe in calm and responsibility. You know in your heart that you will master this one thing, whatever you are going up against. You know there are going to be things with this new job that you don’t know, but you know how to learn. You know how to ask for help.
Don’t think about people who seem to have all the luck. Don’t fall in with the “wrong” crowd. Make sure you’ve got the basics down.
Don’t drink so much that you find you are late for work or that you skip your morning classes.
Be sure to volunteer to help others even if you do not feel like it. Do you know why? Because somebody else who is volunteering right beside you has some influence somewhere. Either they have it, or they are related to somebody who has it. Is that why you should volunteer your time? No, of course not. You volunteer because it is the right thing to do, just like getting to work on time without a hangover is important. Just be open to opportunities. They are everywhere.
Who am I talking to? To whoever needs a kick in their pants.
Somebody somewhere depends on you. It might not be a familial responsibility, but as a friend, as somebody who will listen to them. You count just as much as the next person.
Your job is to help. If you can be in a grand position to do that, then position yourself for success. Position yourself to assume added responsibility. Position yourself to write every day whether you feel like it or not.
This year, do something different. This is the year to clean up your patio or porch and plant something that will flourish. It will flourish because you will at least be responsible for a bit of parsley or a plant.
You would be surprised, I think, to learn how easy it is to develop a scotoma to how you live your life. A scotoma is something that, seen the first time, cries out for attention. The next time you see it, you think, “Someday, I will fix that.” The next time you see it, it has become invisible. My favorite example is a broken light in your living room. The first time you see it, you plan on fixing it. Then, as time passes, you don’t notice it anymore. It’s got masking tape on it, holding it together. But, folks, this is a broken lamp. Your sister comes to visit and thinks to herself that something might be wrong with you that you insist on living with a broken lamp in an otherwise fine living room.
These are the things in your life that you wanted to fix and improve once upon a time.
Make the coming year one to remember with all that you are going to accomplish.
Happy New Year, and thanks for reading.