LIFE'S OPPORTUNITIES
Since I was young, I have always dreamed of living in a country with a better
economy than mine. It's not that I don't love my country; I love it, and I loved the life I lived
there. However, all the economic events have left the country in an increasingly difficult
situation in terms of security, quality of life, and freedom of expression.
When I was around 15 years old, I started working with the goal of building a family
to which I could provide better opportunities than I had experienced. However, the best place
for these opportunities would not be the country I came from. When people think about
building a family, they always imagine a good place to raise their children. That is because
everyone wants their children to be able to live in a safer place a place where they can
actually choose their professions without considering only the amount they would receive for
practicing them.
As time goes by, everyone prepares themselves, as life naturally progresses, for
opportunities that could lead us to a better place. My grandfather used to say that
opportunities are like the waters we observe in the flow of rivers. You never encounter the
same water more than once. In other words, you never encounter the same opportunity more
than once. In his opinion, this was the key to life: you must always be prepared for the
opportunity that comes your way. If you are not prepared, the opportunity will pass by, and
you will never see it again just like the flow of water.
When we hear something repeatedly, sometimes we do not fully appreciate how
important it can be in directing us toward the best path in life. Over time, I followed my path
in a straightforward manner, working hard, and I managed to set up a company and support
myself solely with its profits. I married the love of my life, and all I sought to further the
growth of my family was the opportunity to live in a more developed country perhaps even to
take a course that would help me manage my company. I always wanted to improve, to go
further, to visit places my family never had the chance to go, but, above all, to honor them to
honor my journey and everything that my parents, grandparents, and family had to sacrifice
to create a better chance for me in life.
And, like the flowing waters of a river, this opportunity came to me. In the middle of
2024, I heard about a friend who managed to get into American universities by excelling in
online games. I knew that this was possible for me because I had always stood out in online
games, participated in championships in my state, and regularly trained with my friends. In
addition, I knew that I would be able to master the language and support myself and my wife
with everything I had already built.
So, after hearing that story from someone close to me, I spent the next few months
preparing the visa documentation, attending interviews, saving money, and doing everything
else I needed so that, by the following year, I could achieve this goal.
In early December 2024, my wife and I traveled to another state to attend our student
visa interview at the American Consulate. This happened after I had passed the interviews
and submitted the required documentation to the university, which was willing to accept me
making our move to another country viable. Despite some natural nervousness during the
consular interview, we were able to demonstrate that we were legally prepared to move to
another country. And when the consular agent replied, “Your visa has been approved,” I
realized that this was the result of the principle my grandfather had always ingrained in me. I
was ready and prepared to seize this opportunity by leaving my comfort zone every day and
pursuing goals and dreams that would take me there. This opportunity would not slip away,
like the flowing waters of a river, without giving me the chance to secure it for myself and
my family. I was ready to let it change my life.
One of the lessons I learned from this situation that changed my way of thinking was that, no
matter how much you dream, desire, or plan for a goal, you need to be prepared to live it and
that preparation is built daily. If you do not prioritize the right paths, you will never reach
your final goal. That preparation over the years allowed me to achieve a goal I had set long
ago. In other words, to achieve your goals and dreams, you need to prepare for all the
opportunities that will come your way.
But opportunities do not always appear clearly as something good. Albert Einstein
used to say that the best opportunities are hidden among difficulties. What can be added to
this principle is that true opportunity lies in the way reality is perceived at each moment. For
many, it is never the best time for almost anything. Postponing difficult decisions is a
common habit in society, where most people prefer comfort. The way reality is perceived
becomes a determining factor in every path we take. There are those who focus only on
problems, so they never see a solution good enough to open their eyes to the positive
possibilities in life. Others, however, really manage to make lemonade out of lemons turning
any seemingly negative situation into something productive and beneficial, impacting not
only their own lives but also the lives of those around them.
The reason for this dichotomy why some people fall into a defensive mode while
others are able to unlock opportunities is answered with a single word: fear. In addition to not
letting opportunities pass by and being prepared for them, it is essential to recognize
opportunities even in difficult situations. It is important to understand that opportunities will
not always come as a gift that you can simply receive. You need to know how to make the
most of an opportunity, even if it means solving difficult problems.
When the visa was approved, the economic situation in my country was at its worst
ever. Supporting myself meant living on a salary in REAL (the Brazilian currency) while
spending in dollars, which at the time cost six times as much as 1 R$. Insecurity and
uncertainty are present in situations where it is necessary to leave your comfort zone. The
first thought when facing such a situation is that, even if the economic situation is declining,
the safest option would be to remain in your home country, where, despite difficulties in
some areas, expenses would not be multiplied by six. This was a problem a visible
discomfort. However, not letting fear paralyze you is a necessary skill in life. Many times, it
is fear that causes people to let most of life's best opportunities pass them by. Many of the
problems people face daily are more a product of their own minds than of external
circumstances.
There are no opportunities that are not followed by challenges. The greatest wave of
opportunities can be generated by leaving your comfort zone. Some say that if there are no
opportunities, you can create them yourself. The fear of failure needs to be set aside. This
brings a great deal of freedom, because not giving space to the fear of failure opens up more
room for everything that can work out and for all the goals that can be achieved.
Life's opportunities are a reminder that everyone is capable of getting where they
want to go. No matter your background or what has brought you to this moment in life, every
day presents an opportunity to do something different that can lead you to achieve a greater
goal. Preparation for living out your plans happens day after day. There is no magic recipe;
you need to train your mind daily to live, to step out of your comfort zone, and to take actions
that gradually lead you to the pinnacle of your aspirations.
The secret to getting where you want to go is not giving up on living the process. And
it is in this process that you encounter countless opportunities. Your tomorrow depends on
what you are building today, and this can terrify you or comfort you. It is precisely this
process that differentiates those who merely observe from those who actively seize every
opportunity; it is this process that changes your way of thinking and teaches you to extract
positive outcomes from problems.
The most common mistake people make is to believe that life is only about decisive
moments. This is not true. Life happens while you wait for big decisions. In fact, big changes
require big choices, but big choices happen every day. Being prepared for big opportunities
means making daily decisions that shape your character, strengthen your mind, and improve
your skills. And if, at some point in this process, a mistake occurs, that is normal. You can
use this mistake as a stepping stone to another opportunity. This means that there is still more
to learn and to prepare for. Every lesson and failure is also part of the process; this is what we
call preparation. People who achieve great goals are not those who never fail, but rather those
who learn from their mistakes and never stop moving forward.
Furthermore, one of the most important aspects of this process of daily choices,
opportunities, and learning is that the path is not solitary; building connections is
fundamental. Often, people shut themselves off to any kind of help; however, it is important
to emphasize how much family, friends, and partners contribute to this process. They are part
of achievement and learning. They are part of choices and opportunities. And they can be
your inspiration, strength, and support.
It is also worth mentioning that, considering all of the above, opportunities are the
result of a great deal of discipline, effort, learning, and dedication. The path will not always
be clear, but all preparation begins with a specific objective, and being prepared also means
being willing to adapt to circumstances that are different from those imagined. A great
opportunity for someone may mean nothing to someone else. Each person has a path, a talent,
and a purpose. What matters is not following what others consider an unmissable
opportunity, but rather recognizing which opportunities are right for you. Self-knowledge is
essential for making decisions that truly make sense for your life path.
Finally, it is clear that it is not just about where people want to go, but also about the
path they choose every day to get there. Every day of effort counts. Every small choice made
today defines the doors that will open in the future. All the small details in the pursuit of
results which may seem insignificant in the present form the basis for a future of
achievements. It's not just about dreaming of a better destiny, but about walking toward it
every day, because dreams without action are just illusions. Opportunities consist of daily
steps that are often silent and uncelebrated, yet decisive for those who are truly prepared to
achieve them.
In the end, opportunities are not given to those who wait; they are built by those who
dedicate themselves to the process of becoming worthy of them.
