Fortune Cookie Friday: From Problems To Possibilities
I enjoy hiking and getting back to nature, but it’s not always as easy as throwing on sneakers and running into a field. Sometimes you have to wear boots, bug spray, a backpack, and traverse tall mountains. Luckily, the extra effort doesn’t dissuade me, and today’s fortune reminded me of that. “Do you see difficulty behind every opportunity, or opportunity behind every difficulty?”
As a child, I ran out into the backyard barefoot without a worry in the world. I trampled over prickles, got burs stuck in my long hair, and brought home enough dirt to fill a flower bed. I didn’t look at the inconveniences in life as problems but as possibilities.
As an adult, I see the world much the same. When hiking in the woods, I take my time. Not just to pace myself on inclines, but to spy that tiny bug or mushroom that no one else notices. When an odor drifts on the wind, I try to identify all its nuances—the crisp ozone of rain, the sweet scent of honeysuckle, and the musty, decomposing leaves—each telling me something different. Even when the sun beats down on me, I know that I am getting the daily vitamin D that I lacked during the winter months.
I take the same attitude to work when I write or illustrate. Struggling with a sentence or drawing helps me hone my craft. Are there times I get frustrated, sure. But I push on through and see where it takes me. Any iterations that I don’t use, I save for later. You never know when they will inspire a new creation.
When I have to travel and find myself delayed or lost, I take the time to look around, write down my thoughts, or start a conversation with a fellow human. I don’t intrude on people’s quiet, but search for those who look like they could use a lift.
The world is full of opportunities. You only need to turn the dirt into soil. Grow with every new experience. Most importantly, share that adventure with a friend.
