Instinct.

In life, we are given countless opportunities. Some things emerge without notice, without reason; others give the fullest explanation in advance, in a way to prepare us for what is to come. So, how do we prepare for the unknown? How can we predict what will happen with enough time to put together our thoughts? And that’s just it- we cannot do any of these things.

This is the time we must rely on instinct. Instinct which we have leaned on throughout the years, built up throughout our lives. The instinct telling us to take our first steps is the same instinct telling us that he or she is the one to spend the rest of our lives with. The instinct telling us to stand up for something is the same instinct telling us to just let things be for the better.

So what do we do when we feel no instinct to such surprises that come up? We have to reach, reach deep down and try to harness all those emotions, feelings, thoughts, concerns and find what feels right. Sometimes, what seems right is the answer. Other times, what is the right answer doesn’t feel right. Either way, instinct is the basis of all intelligence and thought. Instinct will always be present to make choices, ask questions, and act.

"He doesn’t know to want for more because nothing in his life has been as much as this...on that night he thinks that no one has ever had so much and only later will he know he should have asked for more." Ann Patchett (Bel Canto)

When things happen, our thoughts become blurry and can easily get caught up in the moment. Instinct tells us to wait. Our minds tell us to act. Instinct tells us to reach out, minds tell us to pull back; instinct tells us to ask for help, minds tell us help is useless. Nevertheless, all the chances given to us are based around our actions on them.

Every choice we make matters. Every word we say matters. Every act we do matters. Even those things we don’t do matter. Every second of every day we are making choices. Some of these choices are made subconsciously; breathing, blinking, moving, thinking, etc. Those choices are by instinct. No one taught us how to breathe, no one taught us how to think, no one taught us how to blink. We know these things by nature.

Therefore, we should not dwell on the things we cannot alter when there are opportunities and decisions waiting to be made. Although the verdict may not come as easily as how to breathe and so on, we must build up our lifelong pattern of thought, impulses, to gain the knowledge to make these choices. Odds are, once we connect our mind with our human nature, things will become a bit simpler; we will be closer to all our answers.