This is a true story about a last-minute miracle.
I have a colleague named Karen.
Once upon a time, Karen stumbled across an opportunity to apply for a grant. If she won, it would provide thousands of dollars in funding for a project she was working on—a project focused on women and healthcare that would save countless lives.
This grant looked like an amazing opportunity.
BUT.
The deadline to apply was that same day.
Less than two hours away.
For a moment, Karen thought, “It’s too late. I wish I had discovered this opportunity sooner. There’s no way I can complete the application tonight. There’s just not enough time. Oh well. Maybe I’ll try next year.”
But then, Karen got a strong message from her “hut” (heart + gut) that said: “Don’t wait until next year. Act now.”
She decided to go for it. She said her prayers. She reminded herself that this funding wasn’t just about "her"—it was about her project and all the people she could help.
She typed as fast as her fingers could go. She poured her whole heart in it. She submitted her application—just in the nick of time. Literally, with three minutes to spare.
Two weeks later, she got an email that said “Winners” in the Subject line.
She had won.
A few weeks after that, she was attending a luncheon to accept her award—shaking hands with leaders from the White House, meeting new mentors, making life changing connections, awash in gratitude and amazement. Her life was never the same.
Later, Karen went on to become the Founder of The Miss Black USA Pageant and College Scholarship Fund, co-founder of the first Diabetes Awareness Day in The Gambia, West Africa, Goodwill Ambassador to Sierra Leone, a bestselling author, and more.
She has touched countless lives. And, many of the seeds for these incredible ventures were planted—all because of that day she decided to take a leap of faith and apply for that grant.
Moral of the story:
Today is not over yet.
Even if it’s 10 pm at night…even if the deadline is just minutes away…even if it’s been a really discouraging day and nothing has gone right…even then, today is not over yet.
If your lungs are still breathing, if your heart is still beating, if you are still alive, then you still have time.
Time to take action. Time to make a difference. Time to say “Yes” to your dream. Time to do something beautiful for yourself (or for somebody else). Time to submit an application, send an email, make a decision, and finish the day feeling victorious.
Your entire life can pivot because of a split-second decision.
The decision to say, “Now” instead of, “Maybe next year.”
The decision to say, “I will” instead of, “Maybe I will try.”
And sometimes, those slightly crazy, spur-of-the-moment, last-minute decisions are the ones that create the biggest magic.
-Alex
PS. Go read Karen’s book, Your Next Level Life, winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Instructional Literary Work. I was so honored to work with Karen to edit, produce, and release this book through my publishing imprint. Karen: you’re a true Queen.
PPS. Speaking of last-minute magic...
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On behalf of myself and the whole team, we are so excited to work with you! Let’s get beautiful, powerful things done in ’21.