Opportunity Realized

Nothing about that Tuesday went as planned.

I planned to get up and get to work early.

I planned to workout.

I planned to teach dance class that afternoon.

I planned to have family dinner that night.

But those plans? Well, they changed.

Long story short, my new year started with a gnarly fall on the concrete in my garage and a resulting injury that hit its painful pique on Tuesday. The result? A lengthy trip to the chiropractor, a muscle-relaxer induced nap, a sub for my classes, and a dinner for one on the heating pad from my couch. Did I mention the clogged sink and visit from Rodney, my friend, neighbor, and subsequent person I call for help in most situations?

All that to say the unexpected events of the day are the reason I found myself up at 11:00 pm watching the Golden Globes on TV while waiting for the dishwasher to drain (thanks clogged kitchen sink). As a fan of movies and TV and a person with a general interest in celebrity culture and fashion, a seemingly boring awards show is interesting to someone like me.

Maybe it was the muscle relaxer, but this time around I found myself repeatedly hit in the feels at some of the best celebrity speeches. One by one, each person who received an award began to touch on the same idea—an idea that I think, if we’re honest, plagues us all.

The idea that opportunity has alluded us. That the dream we’re dreaming is going to remain just that: a dream. That we may only get a taste of that thing we so desperately desire to see come to fruition in our lives. That the moment has passed, the chance has come and gone, the time to start now long behind us.

I know I can relate. I have thoughts like this all the time!

Is it too late?

Did I miss it?

Should I have started sooner?

Is it time to give up on that dream altogether?

Now, while I’m not one to take the words of any celebrity as actual life advice (other than Dolly Parton, obviously), I did find the words of so many at the Globes resonate with this part of me in a most unexpected way.

Take a look for yourself… 

“I had such big dreams as a younger person, but what happens is they get sort of fizzled by life… I had these giant ideas. And then you get older and think, ‘That’s not going to happen.’” -Jennifer Coolidge

“When I started my career as a child actor, I felt so lucky to have been chosen. As I grew older, I started to wonder if that was it. For so many years, I was afraid I had nothing more to offer the world.” -Ke Huy Quan

“It’s been an amazing journey and incredible fight to get here… When I first came to Hollywood, it was a dream come true… But as the days, the years, and the numbers get bigger, it seems like opportunities start to get smaller as well.” -Michelle Yeoh

“I’ve been hiding from this story since I was 17 years old. I put a lot of things in my way of this story… I never had the courage to hit this story head on.” -Steven Spielberg

“I’ve been in show business for 46 years, so this has been a long time in the making.” -Eddie Murphy

“When I was a young person at home in the ‘70s watching The Carol Burnett Show, I never saw a person like me getting an award or even being a character on a TV show… You’re often told you’ll never become anything.” -Ryan Murphy

Sure, these are rich and relatively famous people who have more opportunity than most of us will have in a lifetime. But still, they’re people. They’re standing on stage in the middle of the moment.

The dream realized.

The goal reached.

The hope realized.

The opportunity seized.

They weren’t basking in it without lament. In fact, I think the acknowledgment of the struggle, the fear, the forgotten feelings for years and years made the win all that sweeter. It certainly made it more relatable to this girl on her couch outside of Atlanta who sometimes wonders about some of the same things.

But what I also loved was the recognition from each person that seeing their opportunity realized didn’t happen in a vacuum. Yes, we have to believe in ourselves. We have to have grit. We have to put ourselves out there. We have to take rejection in stride and get back up to try again, and again, and again until the right opportunity finally comes our way. But we also need people who see us. Who step up to help us. Who open doors for us. Who call out our greatness. Who cheer us on along the way and across the finish line.

Again, don’t take my word for it…

“There were like five people who kept me going for 20 years with these little jobs… It would just be enough to get the next one and the next one until I got here.” -Jennifer Coolidge

“Tony Kushner sat me down and said, ‘Start telling me about all these stories I’ve heard about your life.’ He started the conversation… And my wife, Kate, was always saying, ‘You have to tell this story.’” -Steven Spielberg 

“Then along came the best gift… I was given this gift of playing this woman who resonated so deeply with me and so many people.” -Michelle Yeoh

“I was raised to never forget where I came from and to always remember who gave me my first opportunity… Thankfully, more than 30 years later, two guys thought of me. They remembered that kid and they gave me an opportunity to try again.” -Ke Huy Quan

“Thank you for believing in me in the moments I didn’t believe in myself. I’m so grateful for that… For your kindness and for championing me when you did not have to.” -Austin Butler

“I created this show because I love comedy. And there are so many people in the room tonight who are the reason why I’m here today.” -Quinta Brunson 

Their words—their display of gratitude not just for the opportunity realized but for the ones who helped them realize it—made me think of the ones who have done the same for me.

Niki, who gave me my first job in Atlanta and my first introduction into what it means to run a business.

Carol, who gave me my very first writing job.

Ben, who took me to coffee and encouraged me to pursue this career.

Crystal, who gave me my first opportunity when I decided to write full-time.

Mack, who toke me on as the first copywriter at his brand new company.

Every author who has trusted me with their words, their stories, and their hearts.

Every publisher who has put their clients into my hands to develop their books and get them across the finish line.

The list could go on and on.  

Friends, here’s the lesson. Opportunity will knock. It just may not knock on our time or in our way. It’s easy to believe that the goals we didn’t achieve, or the things we never started, or the dreams we’ve been chasing are past the possibility of being reached.

But this is why our stories are so important!

Because hearing just a few words in the stories of some of the people at the Globes on Tuesday reminded me that not only is opportunity always a beat away from arriving, it’s something we want to make sure we’re inclusive about, both in appreciating the people who helped us get there and in creating the same space for others.

So, as we kick off a new year (which to be honest, is just a convenient phrase but a concept I care nothing about in terms of goals and fresh starts… sorry), let’s just make a deal to remember it’s not too late.

To start.

To finish.

To go for it.

To achieve it.

To see a dream come to light.

To see opportunity realized.

Sara Shelton