The Life That Is Mine

This past New Year's Eve, something quick, silly and minor happened that became an analogy in my head to explain the way that I and many others often live life.
A group of us were on our way from the closing bar to Panini's...for 2 reasons: 1. they are open later than any other bar nearby 2. There is nothing better than a Panini's sandwich and/or pizza to wrap up a night of heavy drinking.
As we walked down the street, I was expressing the fact that I was famished, starving and that my stomach was "eating itself"...all of which were obviously overdramatic statements. Well, I tend to be a loud person even without a night of liquor under my belt, and a kind young guy heard my cries for food. He walked over to introduce himself with a half-eaten piece of mouth-watering pizza in one hand...and a glorious looking, untouched piece on the greasy plate that occupied his other hand.
He offered to give me his pizza since I was apparently quite convincing of the life or death situation that I was experiencing. Although I was taught in pre-school to never talk to or take from strangers...there was no turning that pizza down. However, this is not the incident that I later spent pondering.
I am not sure if this guy even finished his sentence of his willingness to share before my hand automatically reacted and reached towards it. Although he had a fresh, full, untouched piece of plain pizza on the plate that he had started to extend in my direction...I went right for the half-eaten piece...I grabbed it...took the biggest bite that I could and smiled. I thanked him profusely and we parted ways as my friends were still heading to Panini's...after all...they hadn't taken food from random people on the street. By the time we got to the bar only a few doors down, my half-eaten pizza was long gone. I was bummed...I wanted more...it was going to be a long wait and I wanted that other half!
Basically, what I am getting at...is that we make choices in life. Often times, we CHOOSE the "half-eaten" pizza even though the full piece is right there in front of us. We set ourselves up to be bummed or wanting more...and yet it is our own fault. We either get impatient...are worried about what others might think...or we just don't pay enough attention to realize the possibilities. I know this analogy is kind of goofy...but it makes total sense in my mind.
Often times...we don't take responsibilities for our choices. Fact of the matter is...we are free to make our own choices. We are not completely power-less over our lives and our destiny. Although there are times in life when we feel alone, doomed, hopeless...we are not as weak as we often think we are. We don't have to accept and/or expect the worst the worse of the potential outcomes. We don't have to settle for less than our dream.
We can not completely control the things that happen to us...we are all dealt different hands...some may be shittier than others...but we do have control over the way that we play them. We have control over choices to love or hate, be positive or negative, be free or oppressed, forgiving or bitter, hopeless or hopeful. Basically, it often comes down to the fact that we must learn to take responsibilities for our lives and for the way that we live them. We need to learn to better evaluate the situations before us and then make the decisions that are in our best interest towards personal health, happiness, etc...
It's all about attitude. "Whether you think you can or you can't...you're right." We will always have countless choices before us...but we must realize that oftentimes something may simply be a choice of attitue.
So, don't pass up the fresh slice of pizza that is presented to you for the half-eaten cold piece. :-) Don't settle...when something you want is in front of you...go for it. Don't expect or accept anything less. :-)