Fortune Telling

Whether you believe in a higher power or #supernatural beings beyond this planet. There is one cultural commonality that is recognized in movies, books and in life. It is the Zoltar Speaks #fortune teller machine. For those who may not know of which I speak, you can reference the scene in the movie, "Big" starring Tom Hanks or "Wind Beneath My Wings" starring Bette Midler to see what this machine looks like and how it is revered. I had the fortunate opportunity to come upon a Zoltar Speaks machine while vacationing in #Myrtle Beach with my family during #Spring Break 2017. I was excited but cautiously curious all at the same time. I wondered what if it tells me a fortune of despair or calamity? On the other hand, what if it told me of amazing opportunities or fortunes to come my way. So I slowing put in the money and intently stared at the machine as it spoke to me and finally dispensed my ticket. I held it in my hand staring at the image side of the ticket for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally I had built up enough courage to turn the ticket over to read my fortune. This is what it said:
Your Fortune
You've had to balance your time recently between work
And friends. Your work consists of whatever you are
Obliged to do and your play consists of whatever you are
Not obligated to do. Just remember better is a person of
Humble standing who works for himself than one who
Plays the great person but lacks food on the table. This
Is a delicate balance indeed. For if you do not get it right
You may be likened to a tree whose branches are
Numerous but whose roots are few. The winds come along
And uproots it and sweeps it down. You will soon master
This balance. Work and love-these are the very basics of
Life to master indeed.

This was much deeper than I had imagined and I had to read it several times to ensure I was internalizing all of its vast knowledge. I questioned, "Am I indeed struggling between work and friends?". "Was this a generalized fortune that many would receive or was it really speaking to my life, my struggle?" Suddenly, my journey along the boardwalk had become so much more. For reasons I cannot explain I did not tell my family what I had done. I kept this fortune in a private place for me alone. It was only today as I was organizing some paperwork that I came across it again. So I began to reflect on my recent actions and wondered did I simply find this ticket because I was organizing or was I meant to find it today? As I go about my daily actions, I will dwell on this and reflect on it's simple but important lesson.