I take all the opportunities that come my way and I am thankful

Hear the words of Royce Gracie: “I take all the opportunities that come my way and I am thankful that I have them.” These words are not spoken in arrogance but in humility, not in the pride of a man who believes fortune owes him, but in the gratitude of one who knows that chances are fleeting and must be seized with both hands. They are the words of a warrior who understands that destiny is not crafted by chance alone, but by the courage to act when the path opens before him.

The origin of this reflection rests in the life of Royce Gracie himself, the man who carried the banner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu into the world stage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In those early days, he was smaller than his opponents, less imposing in size, but he took the opportunity presented to him—to show the world that technique and discipline could overcome brute strength. By seizing that chance, he not only achieved victory for himself but reshaped the very future of martial arts. His gratitude is for the doors that opened, but also for the spirit within him that dared to walk through them.

History too offers its examples of such wisdom. Consider Christopher Columbus, who, though mocked by some and doubted by many, seized the opportunity to sail westward. Others turned away from the risk, but he embraced the chance. Though his journey was fraught with hardship and controversy, it forever changed the course of nations. Or recall Alexander Fleming, who stumbled upon penicillin not by design but by accident. Many might have dismissed it, but he seized the opportunity, investigated it, and saved millions of lives. These stories, like Gracie’s, remind us that opportunities alone are not enough—it is the spirit of seizing them with gratitude that brings transformation.

In Royce Gracie’s words lies the balance of action and humility. He does not say that he created the opportunities, nor that he was entitled to them. Instead, he acknowledges them as blessings and expresses thankfulness. This humility tempers ambition, reminding us that while effort and courage are our part, fortune and timing are gifts beyond our control. The wise man recognizes both—his labor and his luck—and responds not with arrogance but with gratitude.

There is also a teaching here about fear and hesitation. Opportunities come like fleeting birds; if not seized, they vanish into the sky, perhaps never to return. Many waste their lives waiting for the perfect moment, paralyzed by doubt, while others, like Gracie, step forward boldly, taking what comes with both courage and thankfulness. To live with such readiness is to walk the path of growth, for every seized opportunity—whether success or failure—becomes a teacher.

The lesson, then, is this: life rewards those who act with courage and give thanks with humility. Opportunities are not evenly given, nor do they always come again. When they appear, we must meet them with boldness, trusting that even if they bring hardship, they will shape us into who we are meant to become. Gratitude ensures that we do not squander them in entitlement, and courage ensures we do not waste them in fear.

Practical actions arise from this wisdom. Train your eyes to see the opportunities before you, even when they arrive in unexpected forms. Do not wait for perfect conditions, for perfection is an illusion. Seize what comes, whether small or great, and pursue it with all your strength. And always, be thankful—for the chance itself, for the lessons it carries, and for the growth it offers. In this way, every step becomes meaningful, and every opportunity becomes sacred.

Thus, let Royce Gracie’s words endure: “Take every opportunity and be thankful for it.” For this is the way of the wise—to see blessings where others see only chance, to act where others hesitate, and to give thanks where others boast. In such a path lies the secret to greatness, not only in the arena of combat, but in the greater battle of life itself.