Turning Obstacle to Opportunity

When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you an allow it to overcome you, and be a loser. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure.- Mary Kay Ash

Can every obstacle be turned into an opportunity?

Life is a series of problems. It is how we solve them that determine who we are. So avoiding such obstacles won't help us in the long run. Instead, the courage to confront our challenges ultimately prevails all.

Consider Dave Pelzer, "The child called IT". He was victim of the third worst child abuse case in California history. Although brutally tortured by his emotionally unstable mother, he never gave up on himself. Instead, he had a burning desire to live meaningfully. So he endured all the horrendous deeds, and when he was old enough, moved to a foster family. What became of him? Well, he served the army successfully for 13 years, receiving recommendations from President Ronald Reagan himself.

Similarly, Morrie also viewed his environment differently. In the book, "Tuesdays with Morrie", he showed a courage lacking in most of us. Although diseased with an inevitable death, he accepted it with open arms. In the end, he lived with integrity throughout his life, not even fearing death.

Consequently, between one's stimulus and response, one has the ability to choose. Whenever faced with an obstacle, one can overcome it if they have the ability. If it is beyond one's control, for example, death, one can accept the situation and in an indirect way overcome it. If one has enough security and control over an obstacle, one can certainly create a better situation. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

Part B

Every obstacle can be turned into an opportunity, if one has the right attitude or perspective,. People with this attitude are buoyant, not easily discouraged, and welcomes challenges and adversity. One personal example took place in sixth grade, when I broke my hand by falling off my bicycle. The doctor had to put it into a cast.

The cast was a real obstacle. It was on my right hand, the one I write with. It looked like homework would be impossible! But I learned to type with one hand, and I did my English and social studies work on