Every day we are presented with countless opportunities, from having the opportunity to expand our education to having the opportunity to spend time with an old friend.
How many times though do we say “I have to go here,” or “I have to do this?”
You don’t have to do anything.
You get to do those things, see those people, hear those lectures.
Being a part of the Greek Life community has taught me one important thing:
Obligation and opportunity are two completely different things and I am not obligated to take an opportunity.
When I joined Greek Life, I joined because I saw how active members of these organizations are; I saw all the events they held, the events they attended and the multiple other organizations they were a part of outside their Greek organization.
However, since being on the inside of these organizations, I can’t even begin to count the number of times I hear members of the Greek Life community begin to complain because they “have” to go to an event. Myself, included.
When I joined Greek Life, I knew what I was getting myself into, I wanted to be a part of something that “got” to do so many incredible and simply, just fun, events and activities. So why then do we so often begin to nag about all the things we “have” to do?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means trying to bash Greek Life. It’s not just members of these organizations, I just use them as a personal example.
In all honesty, I think it’s a generational problem.
I’ve heard many of my peers make comments about “having” to go to school.
No one is forcing you to achieve your goals and receive a higher education. You are not obligated to attend college. You had the opportunity to pursue that road and you took it. There are countless 18-25 year olds who don’t have that opportunity and would kill to have it.
I think often times we make these comments, without even realizing the negative connotation they carry with them.
You “have” to go to work. No, you get to go to work. Do you know how many students are desperately trying to find a job that would even hire them for just ten hours a week, simply because they need to have money to live?
This issue has a lot to do with perspective. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve made comments, about how I “have to go to work today,” acting as if I wanted to be anywhere but there. In reality, having a job is an opportunity that I was blessed with to have.
Opportunities are not something we are obligated, or inclined to take.
Maybe if we started looking at all the tasks and things we “have” to do, whether it’s our education, a silly event, visiting a loved one, or getting a job, as things we “get” or have the opportunity to do, we’d appreciate life a little more and make the most of those opportunities.
I challenge you, for a week, every time you think or catch yourself saying, “I have to” to something, stop and replace it with “I get to.”
It will become habit, and maybe before long, we’ll no longer feel like we’re obligated to do things, but instead see the beauty in the wonderful opportunities we get to take, that for many, never have the chance to.
