Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity Knocks

Are You Prepared?

The official first day of spring is March 20.  It is a day this former Floridian looks forward to each year since moving north.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy winter; it’s that I love getting outside in nature.

I press my face against the windows with a shovel and gloves in hand.  I cannot wait for the first warm day and digging my fingers into the dirt.  These first few days of spring are all about prepping the soil for the abundance of flowers and vegetables to come.

Similar to tilling a vegetable garden, we need to tend our own internal gardens to ensure we do not miss what life has in store for us.  Spring allows us the opportunity to plant that seed of intention.  Next, we can outline all the materials, training and nutrition we need to help this seed grow.

Many times opportunity knocks at our door, but we do not hear it.  Not because we ignore the call, but simply because we are not prepared to hear the call.  Michael Jordan said he practices so that when it’s game time, he doesn’t have to think, to worry.  He knows.  He’s been watering his garden and weeding any imperfections so when the moment arises, he’s ready to hear the knock.

Don’t wait.  Create your own luck now by cultivating your life to hear and receive opportunities.  Each person’s garden is different, but here are few strategies to get started.

1.     Get moving.  Wake up the body and mind from its hibernation with a brisk walk/jog, yoga, cycle, zumba – whatever peaks your interest.

2.     Eat with the season.  Mother Nature provides us with the most perfect food at the right times of the year.  Choose leafy greens, radishes, sprouts and other delicious spring treats to help clear out the sluggish winter digestive system.

3.     Tune in with meditation.  Give yourself five minutes of quiet time to reflect on your intention.  In silence, you find more clarity and meaning.

4.     Become a beginner.  Just as you had to learn to ride a bike without training wheels, you must do the same with your intention.  If becoming a chef is your ultimate dream, step back to the basics to ensure you have mastered them before moving to the next step.

Plant your seed on March 20 in honor of the spring equinox, and begin tending to your garden.  Come winter you’ll be surprised to see what you’ve harvested.