SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY
What have I lost?
What will I lose?
What will never be in my grasp again?
In the Tale of Two Cities Dickens starts: “It was the best of times and the worst of times…”
I had the opportunity to view a history captures by a young married woman as written in her journal. Times were challenging for them, much of the journal dealt with the uncertainty of the future. Both were young and inexperienced in areas of money management and finance. They were like so many other young couples that were ignorant of the external forces working on them.
The woman highlighted the area that she deemed important and relevant in their struggles. These areas were caught between the time needed to spend together and the time demanded to make ends meet financially.
Dickens wrote, “Best and the Worst…” which is it? As an author, Dickens could create a story reflecting his interpretation of history using creative license. History for us does not offer that option, it is as it is. The entries in the young lady’s journal reflected their reality evaluated by their thoughts, decisions, and beliefs.
The past is either validates or repudiates our actions in the light of the present. The wife’s record covered a period of fifteen years, highlighting events and new information. It revealed her doubts and interpretations of current events at each stage of their development.
One of the entries consisted of three sentences that simply described an action that her husband executed. “I do not feel comfortable with this. He has made bad decisions in the past. I do not know if I should say something?” At the time, she did not attribute a significance to his decision other than her apprehensions. It expressed more about her own fears.
She looked at her husband and saw the ray of hope in his eyes for a better future. This hope balanced her apprehension and she did not react, but rather followed blindly on his hopes. The entry into her journal was barren of emotion or anticipation. That decision however, become a turning point in their lives.
Stephen Covey, in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People stated as Habit 2, “Start with the end in mind.” This is aimed at focusing on the things that really matter to you. Setting your priorities in line with how you would be like to be remembered.
A startling fact is that there are only a few times in one’s life where an opportunity presents itself. The state of mind of the individual at that point can make a huge difference between accomplishing greatness or continuing in a life of mediocrity. A staggering consequence of not being prepared. The necessity of being prepared to recognize one of those few opportunities is crucial. Developing one’s mind for thinking, and preparation for those few times; takes Covey’s premise of identifying the important things in your life into perspective.
Only in the end did the wife realize that the decision not criticize or share her apprehension of her husband’s past failures, led to his embracing his opportunity, further clarifying his visions and dreams. In retrospect, she became aware of the thin line between embracing an opportunity or living in fear. Her husband’s weaknesses eventually became strengths that manifested their lives into success and excellence that propelled them forward financially and emotionally.
In reflection, the young lady realized that her not saying the few words of doubt and criticism to her husband many years earlier; changed the course of their lives drastically.
Today the couple stand as leaders in their industry, reaping lucrative financial awards. They share their experiences with thousands of people, on the importance of following a path that prepares one’s mind to grasp the rare opportunities when they become available.
In conclusion; where it is the best of times or the worst of times? It may be more dependent on how one prepares their minds for what is coming as well as understanding the character that is necessary to recognizing an opportunity when it presents itself.
Not embracing an opportunity could become the “Worse” of times. However, an opportunity embraced has the potential of becoming the “Best of Times.”
Attila Horvath, author.