Did You Know The World is Your Oyster?

Have you ever heard the saying “the world is your oyster”?

I was recently chatting with a young man who’d never heard the Shakespearean adage from yesteryear.

We were talking about making life changing decisions with the current covid situation and all the restrictions. Right now he’s having huge difficulties seeing the possibility of anything for his future and doesn’t know what to do.

My response— the world is your oyster and is open to any, and every, opportunity that you work toward.

While I agree the present world situation sucks, I assured him it will change for the better and when it does, it’s his for the taking.

To achieve a dream or fulfill a goal—like discovering the pearl within an oyster—requires a lot of exploring and hard work.

It’s that hidden gem you seek from an ugly, crusty oyster that’s sealed tightly closed.

Closed–I bet that’s what your world feels like right now? I mean, hey, let’s face it, school, social activities, sports, and life itself are all restricted, but it’s not forever.

In the meantime, you need to identify what you want to do and then work on making it happen.

That oyster is going to take a lot of work to pry open. And no one can do it for you but you.

For some, this may mean getting a university degree and finding a job in their field, for another it may mean travel, and for another it may mean marriage and family. It’s a very individual journey of discovery.

That’s why it’s so dang exciting. You alone can pry that darn proverbial oyster open in a manner that you see fit and search for the pearl in your own way.

If you’re completely lost as to what to do in life, I want you to make a list of 20 things that you really enjoy or love. Something that makes you smile involuntarily or gets you giddy with delight. What are they (list it even if it seems silly) and start exploring from there.

Here’s an example.

Let’s say you love everything about elephants.

Great. Start your research.

Perhaps you want to go to Chang Mai, Thailand, and work on a compound with elephants…

or perhaps you want to go to school to learn how to become a Zoo Keeper…

or maybe you want to go on Safari and photograph elephants.

Anything is possible.

The world is yours.

Make a plan. Set a goal.

You may have to work at the local burger joint for a couple of years before you can pry open that oyster but the possibility is there.

Another example: maybe you love, love, love chocolate.

You could go to South America, pick cocoa beans, and learn the process of chocolate production…

You could go to culinary school and become a baker…

or you could go work at a chocolate store and take advantage of the employee discount.

You’re limited only by your imagination. Go make it happen.

Auntie Lesson:

Don’t shortchange yourself. The world is yours to explore. Anything will happen if you make it so.

Go forth and conquer.

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