Potential...

It’s easy to fixate on challenging circumstances and feel trapped by a set of conditions beyond our control. Our obsession with a particular problem or outcome hinders our ability to think objectively or see alternatives. Yet the words of Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing a few months shy of her second birthday, remind us that amidst adversity, opportunities abound—often in unexpected places and times. Keller said, “Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”

Life’s setbacks are inevitable, but so too are second chances. Every failure is a lesson of resilience, a chance to pivot, recalibrate, and pursue new avenues toward success, fulfillment, and peace.

The key lies in shifting our perspective. Rather than dwelling on what we no longer have or what we just painfully endured or lost, our focus should be directed at the possibilities that await beyond those disastrous and disappointing ordeals. Let’s embrace our innate greatness and acknowledge our capacity to overcome the most daunting challenges. Let's remember that setbacks are temporary, and new opportunities are always within reach. With this mindset, we empower ourselves to navigate life’s twists and turns with courage, resilience, and optimism.

In her autobiography, The Story of My Life, Keller recalled a breakthrough moment that went beyond her life-long teacher spelling words into her hand. She realized the motions her teacher was making on the palm of her hand while running cool water over her other hand symbolized the idea of “water.” Keller said, “I stood still, my whole attention fixed upon the motions of her fingers. Suddenly, I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten—a thrill of returning thought; and somehow, the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that w-a-t-e-r meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, and set it free!”

Always seek and recognize the potential the lies beyond new and open doors.  

(A perspective of Chapter 2, Another Day, Another At-Bat)