Obstacles vs. Opportunities

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Luckily, I do. Trust me I have not always been that way. I have certainly had my share of feeling like I was a victim. But, as I have mentioned in the past, I have been going through this enormous shift over the last year. One of the shifts I have been making has been moving from victim to warrior.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have my pity party moments. I think everyone needs those now and again to stay sane. The difference is, when I am feeling that way, I stop and analyze what I am feeling and why. Let me share a little bit of my story with you.

When I was eleven years old, my father became gravely ill with cancer. It was certainly not an experience I would ever wish on anyone. In effect, I became an adult at eleven. When I could have taken the situation we were in and turned into another source of stress for my mom, I analyzed the situation and recognized the fact that my parents needed my help. Luckily my father survived after a very long battle and is alive and well today.

When we talk about that time as a family there are mixed emotions, there are times even today we wonder, "why us?" But, I have to admit, one of the things I have always said is, although it was not a pleasant time in our life, it made me who I am today. I honestly believe that I would not be where I am today without that experience. It made me strong. It made me tough. It made me a go getter. I never touched drugs because I saw firsthand the effect they had on my dad (with chemotherapy).

Honestly, I have no idea how my life would have turned out had I not had that experience, but I am thankful for it. Yes, you read right, thankful. Granted, I would not want to live through it again, but I have chosen to take the largest of obstacles in my life and turned it into a positive.

How can you do that? What is happening in your life that may seem like an obstacle now, but may end up being an opportunity for you to grow in the long run? I see it on almost a daily basis in my life. I might lose a client one day, but get another client a few days later that is a better fit. You might blow out a tire and meet an amazing business prospect at the repair shop. When I had to have surgery a couple of years ago, I took the down time as a sign that I needed to slow down altogether.

When life seems to be throwing you lemons, stop and examine them. Maybe there is an opportunity to make lemonade and heck, why not open a lemonade stand?!

About the author:


Kristi LeGue is a wife and mother to three young boys. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She obtained her license to practice as a Certified Public Accountant in the state of California and even owned her own practice for seven years. After all that, at the age of 35, Kristi realized it was time for a change. She sold her practice and is transforming her life. She is on the path to becoming an enlightened entrepreneur and wants other women out there to know it is never too late to change your course so that you can change the world. Visit her website: http://kristilegue.com/