At this point, it’s so common in movies that we barely think about it anymore. A character’s extraordinary abilities just show up. Either they were acquired long before we “met” them—like John Wick or Jason Bourne—or they’re bestowed in an instant—like Spider-Man or Captain America.
While these stories have become pervasive, deep down, we know they aren’t realistic.
I regularly encounter this wishful thinking—the desire for something for nothing. It happens most often in class when a student hears me speaking Spanish to another teacher. Without fail, someone says, “I wish I could do that!” But the same person has put almost no effort into learning the language. They just want it to show up.
Now, I fully recognize that we may someday reach a Matrix-level reality where skills are downloaded instantly. But until then, we are bound to the process. Skills must be trained, honed, and maintained. That’s one of the reasons I’ve always gravitated toward the Rocky movies. They never ignored the work. Sure, a montage speeds things up for the audience, but the message is clear: the skills had to be earned.
And yet, here we are—caught in a game where we hope the abilities we long for will magically appear. But the truth is, it’s not about skills showing up—it’s about you showing up. Again and again. Doing the hard, tedious, sometimes unpleasant work required to build yourself. It won’t be easy, instant, or even guaranteed, but it’s far more realistic than waiting for a shortcut that never comes.
Your moment—your opportunity—is coming. When it arrives, will you have the skills to seize it? Or will you keep lamenting that the breaks never seem to go your way? Opportunities exist. That’s not in question. What is in question is your persistence.
Life is already a gift, and right now is called the present for a reason. It’s time to take action.
Don’t just dream—wake up and act!
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 