A to Z Challenge: Doing What You Decided

You've made the choice to change your circumstances. That's only the beginning. 

Now you have to act.

And now, we get to the hard part. Because no matter how many choices you make, nothing happens if you don't act on them. 

I wish I could say things fall right really fast once you start acting, but I can't. Because they don't. The things that are really worth doing take incredibly long to come to fruition. 

For me, my big decision was to move towards the career in arts I'd always wanted. I want to publish books. I want to perform on stage. 

It's been about three years since I came to this decision. And I'm still working on it. The publishing part could happen before the end of the year, though (which I'm SERIOUSLY excited about). 

So what takes so long? 

Well... to explain, I need to explain how I see life. Poker. 

Yeah, that maybe will surprise some of you. Because everyone wants life to be a strategy. But then maybe, you've never looked at Poker from a game theory point of view. And don't worry. I'm NOT going to explain game theory. I'm going to quote the chorus from one of my favorite songs of all time instead. 

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.

People play poker trying to win the hand. 

Winners win because they're aiming to win the game. 

They know when to take a chance that will put them ahead. Other times, they'll sacrifice the money they bet because they know playing right now will make them lose more than they want to. And they're constantly doing all they can to have a measure of what's going on around that gambling table. Who has the best hand?Who's bluffing. Oh yeah. They also know how to bluff the hell out of the game. But they also know when. 

These are things you'll need to learn when you're doing what you've decided to do. 

A lot of people say that they've been dealt cards and they have to play with them in life. I disagree. You've been given poker chips. 

And you get dealt cards every day with which you can do your utmost to get more chips overall. Sometimes, you're going to take a chance that should put you forward, but doesn't. Sometimes you're going to bluff yourself into doing something daring. Sometimes you'll pull it off.

The only time you stop getting cards is when you leave the table. Sometimes you have to. I left the table twice so far. Because sometimes, you need to adapt your thinking and get to a better table. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you don't lose a view of what you want to achieve.

And the only way to stop winning for ever is to stop playing. 

Prayer

Lord, 

I have decided to (name your decision). Thank You for guiding me and making me brave enough to decide. 

Now that I can live the life You want for me, please help me to do it. Please bless my new life, Lord. Help me, soothe me and heal me through all setbacks. And please help me to remember You when everything is going well. 

Let my life be to Your glory, Lord. 

I pray this in Jesus's name.

Amen.