Recently, I have had the pleasure of meeting Opportunity. She’s a guiding light that seems to work only in my favor. She invited me over to her house for tea and told me I would have to travel out of my comfort zone to get there.Opportunity promised to show me that my passions have meaning, that work and play can blend seamlessly, and that my dreams can become my everyday reality. I knew I would regret turning down the chance to meet with her face to face, so why was I hesitating? I took a deep breath and plugged her address into my GPS.

When I arrived at her home, Opportunity attempted to lighten the mood by telling me a joke:

Opp: “Knock! Knock!”

Me: “Who’s there?”

Opp: “Opportunity”

Me: “Opportunity who?”

Opp: “You know, all your biggest fears, but in fancier clothes.”

I only laughed because of how true it was. For me, where opportunity goes, fear follows (like a faithful puppy waiting for a treat). My eagerness to jump at the new experiences coming my way is often followed by an instant sense of panic. I become afraid of taking a chance on something new…of moving forward in my life’s goals, only to long for the comfort and safety that comes from not taking any chances at all.

I understand the part of myself that is afraid of change; it’s the part that does not want to fail, the part that might be taking life a little too seriously, and the part that cares what other people think.

As Opportunity poured me a cup of tea, I remembered a lovely piece of art I saw once that looked like graffiti and read:

“What if I fall?

Oh but my darling, what if you fly?”

I don’t know where the quote is from, but the message in that small piece of dialog opened me right up.

Opportunity and I are pretty good friends now. I’m aware that when I visit with her, fear may be napping in the next room. I’ve accepted fear as a natural part of human survival; it has it’s place. I choose to acknowledge my fears, and still say yes.

Because darling, what if I fly?