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I love being self-employed. And one of my delights is the flexibility to work where I want, when I want.

My favorite spot to pull out my laptop is in the little park next to my home.  There is a cluster of hundred year old mighty oaks, with branches which sprawl out for (what seems like) acres. Spanish moss hangs from the branches, in gorgeous lengths of curly green, which stretch halfway to the ground. The breeze blows gently here… and rustles the leaves so musically.

In the midst of this beauty is a gazebo, housing two rustic picnic tables.  And as though I had designed it myself, there is a power source to keep my equipment charged. I have claimed this spot as my “office” … it nurtures my creativity.  And it is here that I sit as I write this.

Today the wind is kicking up, and as I was walking to my “office”, I was wishing that I had tied my hair back.  The gusts were playing havoc with my hair, and annoying me.  I toyed with the idea of turning back but decided to just live with it.

To my delight and amazement, 30 yards from my “desk”, on the ground directly in front of my feet was a hairclip!  And nobody around but me to claim it.  It had everything but my name on it!  The synchronicity was undeniable.

It brought me an instant boost of delight!  Like manna from heaven.

“Ask and you shall receive”, I said to myself, smiling…still incredulous that something so specific showed up for me, exactly when I needed it.  It’s the second time in a week that I noticed a direct connection to a request, with something that randomly showed up.  It’s always such a thrill!

Of course, the truth is… life is always bringing to us what it is we are asking for.  That’s my belief. Today I just wished that I had asked for my hairclip to show up in a brand new, unopened package.  LOL.

Psst… did you catch that?…

Life always brings what we ask for.

But here’s the problem….

It’s seldom delivered in the package we expect.  Or from the person we expect.  Or at a time that is “convenient”.

It’s seldom as obvious as a hairclip dropping from the sky.  It’s seldom so undeniable.  And so, in the absence of a…

great big flashing neon sign

…we don’t recognize it as the answer we are looking for.  (Insert God sigh here).

The magic of life is that…

Opportunities show up every single day for us.  If only they could penetrate the sleep state we so often operate in.

I’ve been guilty of this… often.  When I was slaving in my corporate career, and becoming increasingly frustrated with the politics, with the stress, with the conflict… and the reality of having a ceiling on my income – I prayed for an exit strategy.  I wanted out so badly.  And expressed it often (against the good advice of others).  I could not understand why the solution was taking so long to show up! “Hell-o!! Is anybody listening!!”

Nobody was listening.  That was the lie I told myself.  The truth is…

The universe is always listening.

Looking back on that time, I now see the endless stream of opportunities and possibilities which showed up for me.  Endless!  But I either did not see them, or I did not recognize them as being “right”.

Sure, some of them I casually noticed.  Some of them I half-listened to.  Some of them I half-heartedly showed up to hear more.  And NONE of them received enough attention from me to do ANY due diligence on.  Not one.  Opportunity after opportunity showed up …and as quickly, walked out the door.

Duh.  Big Duh!

By the way – every time we do that …. every time the universe delivers us an answer and we deny it… we unwittingly send the message back to the source, “No thanks, not now.”  And so the universe, which always responds in kind, says “OK, not now.“  That’s how this works.

If you are recognizing yourself in this… if you are struggling in your life for answers… a way out of the chaos…  LISTEN UP!

There are opportunities all around you!  Right Now! It’s your job to be open enough to receive them.  It’s your job to sift through the potential and the possibilities to select the one that is right for you.  It’s your job to show up for them.

If you are not ready, or not open, or not courageous enough… that’s okay.  But at least own it.  Take responsibility for your choice to stay where you are. And have the faith to understand that when you ARE ready… an answer will show up for you.

In fact, it’s here right now!  An invite from Deb and John

Your Turn,

Do you pay attention to the synchronicities in your life?  Do you recognize opportunities?  Do you see encounters and events as purposeful? I’d love your thoughts!