What if YOU had to knock on Opportunity’s Door?

by Aug 18, 2016

Today’s blog post comes from guest writer Gizelle Erickson. Gizelle is a co-author of the play No Limits, which is opening in less than a month. May her words inspire you throughout your day to seek out your opportunities.

What if YOU had to knock on Opportunity’s Door?

We have all heard the saying, “Opportunity is knocking”.  We are told to listen for that knock and open the door when we hear it.  The idea is that wonderful things await us if we only open the door and allow opportunity to come on in.  I think this is true for some, but not for the majority who find themselves in the struggle of everyday life, seeing Opportunity playing on our doorstep, but without the time or energy to actually open the door.  And maybe deep down, we want to keep things the way they are, knowing that once Opportunity enters, Change is in its shadow.   The more glorious and golden the glow of Opportunity shines, the darker and deeper the shadow of Change lurks behind.  Some of us, whether we know it or not, prefer the known stress of our slugging everyday lives to the deep unknown of Change.

There is a different scenario that this little saying doesn’t take into account.  There are those of us who have been brave and strong enough to face the shadows of Change and experience the glow of Opportunity.  And then… the door shuts as if by an unseen hand, more powerful than us, bigger than us.  Without our permission.  Without our agreement.  What then?

Ah… another little saying.  You know, “when God closes a door, He opens a window”?  Cute.  But I think that’s just for ventilation.  Or escape?

What if we climbed out that window?  Out the window, running down the street to where Opportunity lives.  Knocking on Opportunity’s door.  Of course, Opportunity’s always out knocking on other people’s doors, so I’m not sure how far to take this little analogy.  But let’s say the door does open to us.  What then?

We might become the kind of person who doesn’t sit back and wait for life to happen, but makes things happen.  The kind of person who works hard to get where they are, not spinning wheels like a hamster, but burning rubber like an Indi 500 racer.  Mmmm… scratch that… not a good example.  Let’s face it, are they any different than hamsters?

We might become the kind of person that perseveres.  There is a small moment inside your brain where you choose to give up or keep going.  In the exhaustion that it takes for you to get to that moment, you may think it overwhelming to make that choice.  But I’ve been there.  It is indeed a small choice.  A switch you flip.  You say “No” to despair and “yes” to hope.  It’s not a big huge event.  It doesn’t come with trumpets.  And sometimes it takes time.  It’s a first step, but it makes a difference.  Let’s face it… in the world of windows and doors opening and closing, it’s the only thing we really have control over.

So, go ahead and knock.  See if Opportunity is home.  If not, see if they left the door open.

Things don’t always work out the way you want them to,

and that’s ok. 

Those who are courageous drink lemonade.