In the Land of Opportunity

Everyone in Alaska is knee deep in oil and gas negotiations for the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline. Everyone wants the details- wants to be informed- wants to be a part of the largest construction project in the world to happen.

"This is a chance," they say. "One chance" for us to ensure the future of Alaska- and the wealth of our economy and pocketbooks- for the next 100 years.

Whatever your reason for supporting or opposing this project, it can be agreed that this is an opportunity. If there is one thing that describes Alaska, one word you will hear again and again is opportunity.

What's interesting is not the two sides of the argument, but rather the way in which people welcome or shy away from an opportunity. Afterall, isn't this what life is all about? Recognizing an (every?) opportunity? Think about how people view and proceed with opportunity. From being gung-ho happy to jump on board (the love train), or ones that are pushed on, or running after, or choose to be left behind. What's curious here is that this truly does affect every person in this state and in a way that means more dollars for more people.

With every opportunity come a plethora of questions- how will this impact me? What are the consequences? Risk factor? Inflation? What if... what? That too often is where people get slowly stuck and the opportunity cannot offer what it once could. This conscience for some seems less important than not knowing the answers. A fact of life is that it is filled with unanswered questions. Not being able to see past an unknown outcome only stales life by the withering of lost opportunity. Sad that people can "live" life without facing and embracing the opportunities that are presented every day- yet have we not all been there? Opportunities for gaslines, for jobs, for lovers. Opportunities to grow, to shine, move, impress. Opportunities to RISK IT ALL for a chance to make it better.

The details of how each opportunity can unfold will- and should- vary from person to person- but to recognize what is in front of you is something everyone should be able to agree on.