When you think about the future, you probably think about the job you want, maybe kids, possibly what kind of house you want, paper or plastic... the usual stuff. But how are you going to get there? What are you majoring in? Are you going to go to grad school after college? Law school? Beauty school? Electrician school? So many decisions! What if you have absolutely no idea what you want, but you are willing to try almost anything? But, again, how are you going to get there? Better yet, where is there? Do I sound like a lunatic at this point?

If you are in a point of transition in your life, those questions may have flashed through your head. Whether you are about to graduate high school, finally declare your major, or decide what to do once college is over (*tear*), you'll probably come down with a case of the freak outs. My graduation day is coming up in May and I have already had a few deer-in-the-headlights moments. I know exactly what I want to do, but what if it doesn't happen the way I want it to? What if my "plan" goes to shambles and I am left jobless, passionless, and future-less?

Opportunities are rare and usually come in a form that we didn't imagine. Once you figure out what you want, you can do everything in your power to get it, but sometimes your fate is up to other people. That is a really vulnerable place to be, my friends.

What If?

That one phrase is perhaps the worst combination of words in the universe. Everyone always says that they don't want regrets and that it's best to keep the "what if"s at bay, but when you're faced with the unknown, it's all too easy to start thinking things like this....

What if I don't get that job?

What if I made the wrong decision?

What if I don't recognize an opportunity when it is placed in front of me?

What if I am too clueless to see the black hole leading to Wonderland and miss out on meeting the Cheshire Cat?

What "They" Say:

"They" - AKA the group of people that comes up with all of these generalizations about life - "they" say that "you just know" when the right opportunity comes knocking.  There are so many quotes in that last sentence that I don't know what to do with myself. Moving on...

As cliched as the above advice may sound, I really think that "they" have a point - but I also think it goes a little bit further than "just knowing." Let me rephrase: How do you know when the right opportunity comes knocking? When you realize that it's not exactly what you had expected, but it is suddenly exactly what you want. It just feels right.

So how about THESE "what if"s...

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Given the above advice, how about we rephrase those first "what ifs" as well?

What if you do get that job?

What if you did make the right decision?

What if you did recognize an opportunity when it was placed in front of you?

What if you jumped in the black hole headfirst and were excited to go to Wonderland?

What I mean is...

Life is a huge web of choices. Good, bad, neutral. But you know what? In the end, it all works out the way it's supposed to. Yes, there are missed opportunities, but there will always be plenty of chances to make up for them. You just have to keep pushing forward, working your hardest, and being the best version of yourself that you can. And when you spot the right opportunity, go for it.

The best way I can explain it is through one of my favorite movie quotes of all time:

"Life is an occasion. Rise to it." from Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Well put, Mr. Magorium, well put.

Thoughts?

How do you deal with transitions in your life? How do you weigh opportunities? How do you know you're on the right track? Let us know in the comments!