When I was about 22, I had a friend ask me to go flying with him. I turned him down a few times, and then finally one day I couldn't think of a good reason to turn him down, so I went. I hesitate to say I was afraid of flying, but I can't say I wasn't. I didn't know. I had never flown before.
I arrived at the airport, met my friend and headed to the plane. It was a small four seat-er with a high wing and not much else. It was bare bones, but I didn't know that. I didn't know anything at that point. The pilot went through the check list which included checking things both in and out of the plane. I'll have to admit, by that time, I was starting to get into the excitement of flying.
We taxied to the runway, received our clearance to take off and we headed 
down the runway. As we picked up speed, my friend was giving me details as to what was happening. Finally, he said, "Here you take it." What? This is my first day in an airplane and I'M taking it? He gave me instructions about the pedals, throttle and the stick, and I listened and responded as instructed. Finally I looked down and I was about 100 feet off the ground. It was exhilarating.
Shortly after, I left for Tulsa, OK to attend college. While I was there I studied to be a bush pilot. The role of a bush pilot is to drop people and supplies into jungle landing strips that have short bumpy landing strips and really short take offs. It's a little more intense than my first ride, but my love of flying took place on that impromptu meet up many years ago.
Life offers all of us opportunities that are out of our comfort zone. Sometimes, those opportunities are just minor adjustments to our daily routines, and other times they are huge departures from our norms. Later in life I took an offer to be an adjunct professor in a college in the former Soviet Union (Ukraine). Again, like flying, it was a little intense, a lot intimidating and completely out of my comfort zone. I loved it, and some of the most wonderful people I've ever met were in that adventure, and I love and admire them to this day. It changed my life.
Some opportunities might be business related, and others may have focus elsewhere, but opportunities are always there. Some come along with great surprise and you have to make a spur of the moment decision, and other times they come in drips and drabs allowing you to measure your response. Regardless of how they come, or what they've come to draw you into, pay attention. Your life may take on a whole new dimension with a simple Yes.
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