Opportunity!

Orison Swett Marden was a writer in the early 1900's who was also strongly influenced by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and believed that our thoughts strongly influence our lives and our circumstances. He wrote books called Success Under Difficulties, Architects of Fate, Do it to a Finish, and The Hour of Opportunity. Just the titles sound exciting!
Marden met with many hardships throughout his life and he wrote these books as he neared the age of 50.
When Mr. Marden was three his mother died. When he was seven his father died and that left him shuttled amongst the care of various uncaring guardians. He worked as a hired boy to earn his keep and never lived in one place for very long. Still he managed to persevere and gained admission to and payed his own way through Boston University. After that he attended Harvard and graduated with an M.D. in 1881. Marden supported himself during his college years by working in hotels, and eventually came to own many hotels and a resort. He was successful in the hotel industry for ten years until, at the age of 43, his fortune reversed and he had to resort to new ways to support himself. He then began writing and became world-famous for his many published books.
Marden is known for his numerous inspirational quotes like: "A will finds a way," and "All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers," and "Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities, seize common occasions and make them great!"
How is it that some individuals who have been set upon the path of life with so little inspiration carry on with steadfast strength and conviction? While there are others (nurtured and protected their whole lives) who can hardly come up with the imagination to seize opportunities that lay all around them! What is the difference between these people?
May we always know the common occasions for what they really
are.....and have the courage and conviction to follow through on the opportunities!