First off, let’s remember Mr. Emerson lived in the 1800’s when women weren’t supposed to be strong. In the meantime we’ve realized that’s a load of crap, so we can assume he wouldn’t mind if we substitute ‘person’ for ‘man’ and get on with it. 

This reminds me of a comment by a classmate visiting my home when I was in medical school. In the twelve hours before she arrived I had fed myself, my baby and my husband, packed lunches for all of the above, taken the baby to daycare, gone to class and a three hour biochemistry lab, picked up drycleaning, diapers, and the baby, taken the dogs for a walk, called my mother, and cleaned the bathrooms and kitchen. My friend strolled in, looked around and said, ‘You are so lucky! Your home is so nice.’ 

I wanted to scream: ‘LUCKY?? Are you kidding me? Luck has nothing to do with it!!’...but I was too tired. 

To clarify: I do know that I am tremendously lucky, or as my mother in law reminded me years ago, ‘You’re not lucky, you’re blessed.’ So to rephrase, I am tremendously blessed with opportunities, but if I miss them or worse, don’t choose to take advantage of them, they are wasted.

I think like most important things, the key lies in a balance. Being grateful for your blessings or your luck is critical, but that’s not the same as relying on them to take you to the next level. That happens when a person chooses to exert the strength necessary to cause those opportunities to have effects - one of the best being the creation of more opportunities.

Stay strong, people!