Now or Never

I was given a book mark despite turning down an offer to enlist as sponsor for UNICEF.

"As a father, I can't imagine how life was for these young children living and working on the streets. They are exposed to so many threats and dangers, and are missing out on the basics in life - having people around who love and guide them."

- David Beckham
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

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The other day I had (as I thought) a client. She started with a robotic dialogue which then turned into an invitation to help through UNICEF. I was asked to choose from photos representing major problem in the world. It seemed like a question-and-answer portion of a beauty pageant that I would end up saying world peace. Seriously, I chose hunger.

The objective of the agent was to get sponsors to pledge for the causes of UNICEF. I don't have doubts about the offer it's just that I'm not in that status to do charity work yet. What stuck to me was when I decline and express my intention to oblige in the future, she said that the offer is once in a lifetime. 

***

Now or never is such a heavy term. I've encountered such a lot of times, one of which cost me around P10,000. I got a text message which says we won round trip ticket to Disneyland, on the day before our scheduled tour to Hongkong Disneyland (our own expense). What a coincidence?!

I went to the venue to claim our prize only to find out that there is an orientation for a club membership. I enlisted and but later withdrew. Up to this day I believe that the offer is legitimate and it was not a matter of scam. I only had been persuaded because of the "now-or-never" offer.

***

This recent event reminds me of opportunity cost - a topic in accounting subject. Practically, we give value to an opportunity forgone. I give big respect to those people who declare that they would not want their lives lived any other way. For all the things that happened to me, I have few regrets. Basically, there are things I could have done differently - better.

As a grown up, one important lesson I learned is that there are second chances but some of them come in other ways. There are things I could never be but there are still that I can be. Now-or-never is partly untrue.

***

I'm not David Beckham so the chance to help or to be of service to others is very limited - at least for now.

I see possibilities that I will. Definitely.