What Do You Do With An Opportunity?
A Year of Noticing - Day 64
There is a series of children’s picture books that have titles like, “What do you do with a problem?” or “What do you do with a chance?” or “What do you do with an idea?”
They are simple, yet profoundly inspiring books.
I actually thought that one of them was titled, “What do you do with an opportunity?” but when I did a quick internet search… that one hasn’t been written… yet!
The reason that title came to me today, was that today I noticed myself seizing an opportunity. It is sometimes easy to notice a gentle nudge, or an opportunity… and then, if you’re anything like me… talk yourself out of it in favour of “something practical”.
Today, as I was finishing up some work on my computer I looked up and noticed that the sky was a brilliant colour, and casting beautiful shades of light on the trees and all the freshly fallen snow! After days of overcast weather, it looked as though the sun was potentially revealing a remarkable sunset. The window I was gazing out was facing north, so I wasn’t able to see the full essence and beauty of the sunset…
I pondered for a moment. The practical parts of me were leaning towards leaving the noticing there… “Hmm… must be a nice sunset out there,” and keep on working.
Fortunately, I’m learning to lean into the the BE-ing parts of me more than the DO-ing parts of me… and suddenly wondered, “What do you do with an opportunity? What do you do with a gift?”… what would I do with this opportunity and this gift today?
I had a choice to make.
I accepted it fully and whole-heartedly!
I quickly closed up my computer (the work will still be there later), and bundled up for the insta-winter weather, and headed outside!
As I rounded the corner towards the west, I was awed.
This is the thing about accepting the gift of an opportunity - you have the potential to be wowed and awed beyond your wildest dreams! That’s the thing about an opportunity, there is mystery and wonder and the potential for amazingness to ensue!
I basked in amazement at the calm AFTER the storm, and after I had cleared the snow off the car today… and the freeezing ice that had formed over the headlights - I felt even more profound gratitude for this one wild and precious life (Mary Oliver), and that I had the opportunity to experience this magical sunset this evening! And I was also grateful to myself, for seizing the opportunity… before it passed me by!
And just for fun… here’s a few photos of my daytime exploration treking through all of the snow that fell yesterday! It was also pretty magical!
These were some opportunities I took today - to take a little meander through the freshly fallen snow, and to witness a beautiful sunset! I noticed, and seized the opportunity! What will you do with an opportunity?
xo