Opportunity Costs
Sooner or later, we pay for everything.
So, I’ve been thinking again. Always a dangerous thing with me. Tonight, I was thinking about what things cost and how I’ve paid for them over the years. No, I’m not talking about cash and the level of debt I carry. Well, I’m not talking about cash, anyway.
Nor am I talking about any simple, tangible form of payment. Tonight, I found myself contemplating lost opportunities. It’s a reality that hadn’t occurred to me until I was in college, really. The idea that by choosing one course of action, or inaction, other courses were lost or unavailable.
I’ll give you an example. If LK had stayed involved with me last year, she likely would have missed out on the opportunity to move to Denver and do all kinds of great things for her business. Sure, she would have had that relationship, such as it was, but, I think she would have missed out on a bigger, better opportunity for her. That business was her life, in many ways, and, as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t help her enough with it. And, yes, I’m glad that she made that particular choice, because it was the best choice for her. But, it did have intangible costs associated with it.
For instance, if she’d stayed here and with me, we might have gotten married. Granted, where I was mentally and emotionally at this time last year, that was pretty unlikely, but, still a possibility. Or, any of a number of things could have happened here, in Houston, for her and her business, that she didn’t get to experience because moving away cost her that opportunity.
I think I missed out on an opportunity myself, recently, because I spent too much time considering it and not acting on it. It happens.
And, then, there are all manner of lost opportunities that passed me by while I was in the hospital taking chemotherapy.
On the other hand, passing up those few, small, opportunities allowed me to continue living, which will provide a whole lot more opportunities that won’t pass me by.
Funny, when I sat down to write this, that’s not where I thought I was going.
God sure does work in mysterious ways.
I wonder what opportunities I’ll have tomorrow?
Advice from your Uncle Jim:
"If someone keeps having things go wrong, try out the assumption that it's because that someone wants them to go wrong."
--George Scithers
When we make choices, we rely an an abundant cache of past experiences to guide us to where we think we want to be. In order to take big steps, we first need to feel that we are strong enough to stay upright, or pick ourselves up if we fall. The way I see it, if we look back and regret not taking advantage of certain opportunities, and really want to see ourselves in that other place, we can pick ourselves up and get ourselves there. Most things can work out that way. Of course, there are biological limitations to some things, but for most, we can still get there! The only things that can stop us are death and our fear.
I’m depending on all of my courage to get me where I want to be. I’ll bet I have enough! I’ll bet you do too!
My comment is so long because I am warming up for NaNoWriMo. I’m not sure if I should thank you or curse you for introducing me to this. (I’m thinking thank! so thanks!)
Comment by Cheri — 9/24/2007 @ 11:43 pm