Taking advantage of more opportunities!

Recently I've had different opportunities present themselves to me. I've met people that I felt like I just needed to learn from. Had I not been ready, I would have truly missed out on some incredible chances. One such example was how 2011 started for me. I was feeling that big push in my life that I needed to be doing more. More for myself, the ones I love, and more for my community. I wasn't able to fully articulate what that meant until I was in a meeting. We were asked to go through an exercise in which we chose 3 words that described our goals for the year. I chose passion, enthusiansm, and engagement. My thought was that i wanted to jump in this year and get involoved. I wanted to be more involved in the music scene and in my comcommunity. Not long after that experience, I got my opportunity and I am so glad I was ready for it. In just a few short months I joined the board of directors for the Fort Wayne Children's Choir, was asked to write a song for a local non-profit video project, got involved in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, started attending a local songwriters showcase, and performed at more than 8 different fundraiser/charity events. Before I knew it, I was involved and in a big way. As I think back on the whole thing I truly could have missed out.

So much has happened since that time.  I have now been honored to speak at commencement ceremonies for ITT Technical Institute twice now.  I get the opportunity to speak regularly to audiences and some really amazing things have happened.  All because I was willing to take advantage of opportunities. 

So I'm not sure how much I believe this or not (and I'll apologize now to my grandmother who may be reading this), I once had a psychic tell me that the universe was waiting to open up for me when I was ready to let it. I think there's some truth in that. You have to be open and ready for what's coming. Its an important first step to always being ready when the opportunity presents itself.

     As I said before, don't miss your opportunities.  Be ready and don't let fear get in your way!