Survival of the Fittest

So I'm usually still half asleep on the way to work. Despite countless attempts, I have come to accept that I will never be that chirpy morning person.  But two incidents today jolted me out of sleep mode, a feat I previously believed impossible.  The first, is admittedly quite amusing.

If you saw me on the bus this morning, I'm ashamed to say I was that person with my head pressed up against the window, 'resting' my eyes and praying my dozy persona didn't make me miss my turn to get off.  Therefore you can imagine my reaction to a passing cyclist slamming his elbow into the side of the bus.  I almost jumped out of my skin.  It was a very much needed but unwelcome wake up call.  After that, I sat upright like a frightened rabbit, avidly alert for the duration of the journey.  Next time I will certainly think twice before giving in to fatigue in a public environment.

The second incident was spotting a sign that I realised I had passed everyday but never actually noticed before.  It stated 'freedom to the pike is death to the minnow.'  I took a minute to stare at it, ignoring the rush of people darting around me, looking too busy to take a breath.  And then I connected the two. 

Working in the professional world for three weeks now doing various bits of work experience in the city, I have come to learn that the world isn't waiting for me.  I am going to have to fight for it.  Because there are plenty of pikes out there willing to eat you for breakfast just to grab your opportunity.  There are winners and there are losers.  It's a survival of the fittest and many may drown in the process. 

Take central London for example.  The core of the corporate world.  You have to elbow your way through the crowd, fight for your seat on the tube and maintain your position in the coffee queue.  And if you don't?  Move out of the way rapidly before the person behind steps on you with their higher heels and feistier personality.  There isn't even space for losers.

So buy bigger heels.  Become a survivor.  Because amazing opportunities are not handed out.  You earn what you get.  Which makes winning that much sweeter in the end.