Blogging from A to Z Challenge
Theme: Movies reflect human needs...
Yes to opportunities.
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| Image from storyblocks.com |
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. (Thomas Edison)
Hoooboy, I can relate to that. I've bemoaned opportunities lost, not usually because they looked like work, though, but because they looked like more work. I routinely feel overwhelmed because I allow myself to get bogged down in tasks, so, when opportunity knocks, I'm usually too tired to open the door.
I felt chagrin while watching The Pursuit of Happyness (2006). Based on a true story, Will Smith portrays Chris Gardner, a man who despite being a single father, homeless, and financially struggling, accepts an offer for an unpaid internship that might lead to his dream job. Not convenient--at all!!--and a whole lot of work with no guarantee for the desired outcome. I felt painfully aware of my shortcomings as I watched him grab opportunity by the overall straps and run!
The times I managed to say yes to interesting ventures, it was after I reminded myself that opportunity is rarely convenient and that if I select only convenient opportunities, I will miss out on a lot. (I wrote about one such opportunity here, and shared one of the videos here and the other here.)
We need to say yes to life. Not yes to every request or invitation, but embrace the opportunities that pull at us, lights a spark within, or lines-up with our purpose.
In each of these films, the main character says yes to opportunity...
Last Holiday (2006)
Queen of Katwe (2016)
The Ramen Girl (2008)
Sleepwalk with Me (2012)
Soul (2020)
Yes Man (2008)
How about you? Have you accepted opportunities? Have you missed some chances because it looked like work, or was inconvenient, or maybe didn't recognize it as an opportunity at the time?
(Note: The movies listed might not be completely family-friendly. See my "Movie Content" information on the blog's sidebar.)
Your lists are very interesting and also the topic you have chosen for the blogs is great. I have loved visiting your blog and reading about the movies I have seen or decided to see in future.
ReplyDeleteI would add "The greatest Showman' to this list. What do you say?
As for me, I couldn't go to college despite being a topper. But cancer gave me the push to get there.. I made for my missed opportunities later in my life.
Ooooo... The Greatest Showman is a fantastic example for the topic. He says yes to his dreams, and the people who work with him accepted the opportunities he offered.
DeleteIn following your blog, cancer taught you many things. It's wonderful that you've been able to make up for missed opportunities.
BTW here is a small animated movie my son made for his college project. It was also named In pursuit of happiness but with a different concept. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6F-CP9G6fo
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your son's video. I enjoyed watching it! As each character seemed happy until they compared what they had to someone else's possession, I thought of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
DeleteSoul is a beautiful film we saw over Christmas last year. Always be open to opportunities is a good motto to have.
ReplyDeletehttps://iainkellywriting.com/2021/04/29/the-state-trilogy-a-z-guide-y/
I enjoyed the movie. I'd heard good things about it, so I was glad to have the chance to see it last month.
DeleteQueen of Katwe sounds great, thank you for this great movie list!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I know everyone has different tastes in movies, so I hope you enjoy the ones you select to see.
DeleteI keep seeing Yes Day advertised on Netflix. It's where the parents spend the day saying yes to their kids instead of no. I really want to watch it although I don't think I could actually do a yes day myself. I do love the concept. Weekends In Maine
ReplyDeleteI saw Yes Day. I included it when I posted about Play, but it does fit this topic too. Thanks!
DeleteI'm trying to catch up on the many posts I've missed as I chanced upon your blog quite late in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteJust love the topics you've picked to write about.
They're so inspiring and dare I say served with a dollop of tough love too:) Yes, hard work is key.
I can't think of a film but loved 'The pursuit...'
Watched 'Time' last night and although it's more in line with being pushed to grow (your Z post), it also highlights hard word and patience.
I'm not familiar with "Time" so I looked it up on IMDb but there are several by that title. What year was it produced?
DeleteThank you for your kind words and for visiting my blog. I'm trying to catch up on your posts I missed, too.
You've listed one of my favorite movies, "Yes Man." Funny and a great example of seizing opportunities. Although "The Mole Agent" is a documentary, it is a charming story of a man in his eighties who gets a job as a spy in a nursing home. He took the opportunity offered him, it challenged him and opened up his world. Sweet, entertaining film.
ReplyDeleteHe gets a job as a spy in a nursing home? Very intriguing! I'm adding that to my list, too.
DeleteTrudy,
ReplyDeleteMy first job was commission paid only. It was hard, often discouraging work. After several months, maybe it was a year of that I decided I wasn't a salesperson and moved onto a conventional paying job. However, I gained a lot of excellent experience and knowledge I of how to computers worked - hooking up, networking, selecting software, ... for which I'm to this day grateful for all I learned in those early years. The next 'yes opportunity' is where we started a home-based business in the telecommunication industry in the mid to late 90s. After years of DH being one of the first people to get cut at work, we decided with his layoff around that time to say 'yes' to a MLM opportunity DH's older brother approached us about. Again, this was hard work, harder than what we imagined, and we couldn't make a stable living to keep things together but in the end we walked away learning many things about ourselves as well as others. Even when there are failures in those yes opportunities, there's usually valuable learning picked up that we otherwise wouldn't have gotten had we not said yes.
"Even when there are failures in those yes opportunities, there's usually valuable learning picked up..." Wise words of experience, there. Thank you for sharing your insight.
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