Seize the opportunities
Translated with Chat GPTI've talked a bit about how I've used this different year to find out a bit about myself. To figure out what makes me happy and how to do life in a way that keeps me happy. What I've found out is that I've been way too comfortable in my life. I've been content and happy. I rarely yearn for anything specific. Sometimes I crave a bit of sun when it's darkest here in Norway, but otherwise, I'm satisfied. That's how it's always been. And it works. Mostly. There was one time when I opened my eyes and thought, "I don't want this anymore," and that was when I divorced my ex. We had a good relationship. Still do, actually! But being married to a good friend wasn't how I envisioned my happily ever after. So we divorced, and I met Morten. With Morten, it's been hard to settle into a routine or a state of functional contentment. Because he's always up to something new. And he takes me along.
When I was at my lowest, or when he was sick, it was about making the most of everyday life. Giving ourselves the most. So we found a way to chase life. That's what triggered the desire for this different year. Finally, everything clicked. Both of us were healthy, had energy, and were eager to chase life like crazy! So we took this year, which is soon coming to an end, and found plenty of things that replenished us. For example, I discovered that I actually enjoy traveling, even though I've thought it's stressful. I just had the wrong focus. Right now, traveling is so much fun! So, we want to do more of it. Working is necessary to earn money for traveling, so we have to do a bit of that too. I found out that I enjoy creating websites, so I do that. Morten likes being outdoors and meeting lots of people, so he works at the ski lift. We caught life, and it worked!
Chasing life is important! But remember to stop and smell the roses now and then.
But!! And it's a big but, actually. What do we do now? What will we fill our days with when the ski lifts stop and this different year is over? I've quit my job at the school. Morten continued with the family business, so he has that. But we still want more. The only thing this different year has shown us is that we like chasing life. We like discovering new things, learning new things, seeing new things. We don't want to sit down just yet.
And we won't either. As I wrote earlier, Morten is really good at coming up with something new. He's done it many times already, but since I've been working at the school, I haven't been able to join in on everything. This time I could choose. And I chose to quit and join Morten in the fun. The opportunity to try something new presented itself, and we went out and seized it! A few years ago, Morten, along with a group of local investors, planned to start a barge in Vikersund. It ended with them buying a property right by the water and creating a restaurant. The restaurant had no one to run it yet. We figured that had to mean we were supposed to run it! So we teamed up with a third M and are now running this restaurant. For how long? I have no idea! But right now, we could and wanted to do it! So we jumped in. I've worked as a waitress and bartender for several years. Morten has run several restaurants, and the third M is a really good chef. So this can't be anything but great fun!
This opportunity wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been willing to take the chance. I've never done this before. I have no idea if I can do it, but I know I can learn new things. And I know that if I decide, I can do it. So I decided! I read everything I can about laws, regulations, guidelines, and others' experiences. I call, email, and meet new people in the pursuit of the knowledge I need and everything else that needs to be in place to start and run a restaurant. It's not like this just fell into my lap and everything clicked. I don't think that's how life works either. Anything worth having, you have to work for. Or as Theodore Roosevelt said:
So for me, this is a new opportunity to chase life. I'm making an effort to give myself happiness. Happiness in the form of mastery, travel, experiences, and time with good people. This opportunity to run the restaurant is a chance to be with Morten and do something together with him. It's an opportunity to provide funds for new travels and experiences. It's a chance to gain new knowledge, meet new people, experience new triumphs. It's an opportunity I couldn't let slip by. I had to jump and seize it! I just had to. And I hope it'll be worth it! I can't see how it wouldn't be. Either way, it's a fantastic opportunity to forge a bit more of my own happiness. So I'm taking it.
I hope you see your opportunities and seize them. There are really no wrong dreams, but it might be the wrong time. Then you just have to keep your eyes open and keep hunting! One day you'll see them, and then you just have to dare to jump! Life is short, what are you waiting for?
But remember to enjoy the little things in life while you wait
