The Power of Opportunity

The Power of Opportunity BY LALITA CHEMELLO

I am the worst at saying no, as I am sure many of you can relate. For some reason, I will likely volunteer to help even when I most likely shouldn’t, seizing every great opportunity, however more complicated it can and may make things, because who knows what may become of it?

I sometimes blame the “grind” mentality of my Detroit roots, or the Midwest work ethic, where if you’re not working, you’re likely lazy (but not actually called lazy). That mentality that you work, and work, and work until you have what you want— until you’ve essentially, made it, makes us admirable workers, but also sometimes pretty useless human beings.

Crazy enough, my therapist doesn’t encourage that “grind” mentality to work until you make it, citing things like burnout and anxiety, among a long list of other consequences. In reality though, my therapist is really spot on with that, because that list, that burnout, is exactly what happens. We live in this the land of opportunity where we idolize, near worship, the people who work hard, putting all of their time and effort into their dream. Some of us can do it with little-to-no consequences.

And while I certainly encourage my friends, family, and even the kids I mentor at my alma mater to seize opportunities, there’s a way to do it in a more reasonable fashion that doesn’t hit the “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” sequence to most of your existence.

It’s actually why this, as you may have read in our Bridal Guide, is my final issue with Moxie.

You know, I started back in October of 2019 as a columnist for Heather. I had lost my full-time writing job in Detroit two years prior thanks to layoffs. My only bylines were on a blog I had personally created about racing, called GpGrl.com, and I had my first byline the next month in an issue of Porsche Club of America’s Panorama magazine on the Formula E electric racing series. My writing at that time in my life was sparse and minimal. But I was in that hustling phase. I was going to write, even if I wasn’t getting paid (or paid often) for it!

When I later lost my job during the pandemic, Heather offered me the Editor’s position here, and that has truly been a fruitful experience. We worked through a lot with everything coronavirus decided to throw our way, while still building and creating a totally new brand for our Kalamazoo-area magazine. Yet, we remained as positive as we could, and sometimes, like you read in my columns, things weren’t so keen. But here we are, still here and standing strong.

I think it was the taking of a fairly rough job (for anyone in existence) for 2021, that really was perhaps the last straw of trying.

Like Moxie’s perseverance through the pandemic, I’ve kept up that personal perseverance writing and holding multiple jobs for a long, long time. I mean, all of this (read: the grind) was to pay off bills from hardships over the last, wow, nine years. And some of those side hustles were to ensure I was just doing something I loved in some degree or capacity. The money, if I made any, was simply a very precious bonus. Moxie was one of those opportunities. It was also an incredible opportunity that popped up at the right time.

Opportunities. They’re a precious thing. While some believe they can just fall into laps, I think the best ones come your way when you are actually out there, putting in the work to seek them. Not every single one that comes your way will be a winner, but likely each one is filled with experience. And some of that experience will most likely provide lessons of great and not-so-great things to do in future endeavors.

For me, when I felt like I couldn’t find those opportunities for a while, I created them. Did I need to take on as many as I did? Maybe not. You really shouldn’t say yes to everything.

Also, I know there were other things I could have let up on (like my clothing weakness), to lessen the load. Please, don’t be me.

Despite maybe a few bad choices and lemons in the grind, and years of taking nearly every opportunity I made for myself or was able to find, I think I found the goal. That next step. Call it stability. Call it the dream. But my heart knows this is what I’ve spent the last 15 years working so hard for. And for once, I can finally just “breathe,” and enjoy having one job that combines everything I’ve wanted (and needed) to do, for a little while. I’m also excited about having full weekends again to actually go out (into the wilderness for now), and just enjoy myself.

With that being said, first of all, thank you, for hanging on with me for these last two and a half years. I know we have never met, and my exiting, is probably an okay thing for you. But truly, thank you, for being a part of Moxie and keeping us going this far. For keeping me going this far. Being a part of this for all of this time, helped get me to the next step.

Second, if you are a writer or editor with some experience and need a little side-hustle, may I recommend my position? Heather could use the help, and I would be a fool to not present to you, an opportunity, too.

And lastly, I hope, for those of you on the chase to achieve your dreams: hold on, and best of luck. It’s a rough road sometimes, but you know, I can say now. We do, and can make it to the other side.

Lalita Chemello

Lalita is our Editor, Writer and occasional photog. Her 13 years of writing has landed features with Panorama, published poetry and even a short film. She spends any extra time she can quenching her wanderlustian needs by finding new places to adventure with her other half, writing, or playing with their motorized toys.

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