Start Chasing That Opportunity

We are still in the midst of drying out our studios and gallery space from a water heater failure. The Plumber just left after replacing the offending appliance. It is a blessing to have good neighbors and great tradespeople who will move you to the top of the list and get the job done. There are fans going, carpets get picked up today to be cleaned, and a repair crew has been chosen to fix what had to be broken in order to dry out the spaces. Whew! It can feel like a lot, all at once, all the time.

I moved a portion of my studio into our living room in order to stay on track. Tables are piled with books and supplies so that I do not have disrupt the “fan kingdom” that is our creative spaces. I found these words from Albert Einstein and took great comfort, as I agree with his insights. There is the initial shock of the difficulty, and the ensuing negative emotions, words and reactions. Once that slows down, repairs begin, and people do their jobs…there is that shiny flicker in the corner beckoning you towards opportunity. When you can see the future a bit more clearly, there are great things that can happen.

I plan to cull, reorganize, clean out and move things. We are blessed with spaces, so let’s think differently and move to the next level. There are things we have kept out of sentiment, hoarding or even laziness that probably need to be checked and rechecked. It may be time to move on or use it…either way, it is time to review it all. Good news is the floors and carpets will be clean, the drywall seems to be in tact, and the baseboards will all be new and freshly painted. There is an opportunity here to clean and improve…even if that was not my plan for my time this month and next.

As I sit and listen to the loud fans doing their work, I think back to other “disasters” in my life and can see where the trail forward turned towards a different, better, shiny opportunity that lead me to where I am today. It takes courage to change things, even if that change is thrust upon you. It can fell like a violation, a slap of your hand, a set back, or even a great disappointment. Once you can clear through the emotions of it all, difficulty does bring opportunity.

So what difficulty are you stepping over or around, instead of jumping right into it? Avoiding things doesn’t make them go away, it makes them worse or even stale. There is a point where we all must muster the courage to face the day to day challenges in our choices AND do something about them. Even if doing something means shifting or changing how we think and act, if just a smidge. Change doesn’t have to be an earthquake, it can be just a sorting through of that pile of papers we all avoid. Moving the furniture, parting your hair differently, or even painting one wall to see if you like that color. Change may require leaving behind or stopping bad conversation, bad behaviors, or stopping spending time with people who make you feel bad about yourself. Whatever the changes are that you want to do, it is not too late. It didn’t have to be a New Year’s resolution, it can be today’s one thing and tomorrow you can do it again…until the new thing becomes the habit.

No matter what it is – fans and failed appliances that flood your spaces – you CAN see opportunity in it. Somewhere that bright, shiny idea is glittering, waiting for you to pay attention and DO something. If I can do it, you can…so get up and start chasing that opportunity!