Shoot Your Shot - The Ebi Ashidi Version

Ebi Ashidi

Happy new year… been a while I guess…

If you are active on social media, especially twitter, you would be used to the 'shoot your shot' ideology that came in a few years back, and has gradually gained popularity among young people everywhwere - just like every fad on the planet (And the social media frenzy old people as well) what does it mean to shoot your shot?

The Urban Dictionary (yes, we have a thing like that) defines it as, 'to let go of your pride and pursue someone you are interested in’ or ‘take a chance, no matter if you fail or not’.

2017 had its testimonies of shot shooters getting what they needed done and some others who got rejected. Shooting your shot has got its negative stories as well as its positive stories, it’s a neutral term.

Now, I'd like to tell you something interesting. Shooting your shot doesn’t necessarily need to be a relationship thing, or have a romantic intonation. For me, whenever I hear 'shoot your shot', what comes to mind is someone breaking the ranks and doing something unusual. Someone making it past the ordinary or average. A lot of people have shot their shots without shame or caring what people would think of them, and have been successful.

This post isn’t about asking you to shoot relationship shots - that’s not in my job description, rather I want you to wake up to the possibility of actually trying something new. Venturing into unknown territories, and making a mark for yourself.

The thing about shooting your shot, is that it usually isn’t the logical thing to do at times. It entails kicking against the winds, and forging ahead in your pursuits. It requires breaking the barriers of normalcy, and gaining new grounds in self-development.

What's that adventure you have always clamored for and dreamt about?

It could be involving yourself in a business, volunteering with an organization, resigning from a job, or even applying for one, gym registration (some of us need to shoot that shot, really), seeking a deeper spiritual relationship, getting in a relationship or getting out of one, trying a new hair style or colour, cutting your hair - you name it. It could be just about anything.

The important thing is to let loose, stand tall and just shoot your shot. Yes, questions and doubts will often probably flood your mind, but I have my own questions to ask in response to them.

What if I fail? 
You try again! What if you don’t?

What if I don’t succeed?
What if you do?

What if I get laughed at? 
What if you’re cheered on?

What if I give up? 
What if you get a support system to hold you up?

"What if's" are too common a question to crosscheck our dreams, but we can’t live our lives based on negative what ifs. They come and go.

It’s a new year, you might not find this kind of excitement and drive at any other time in the year. Why don’t you shoot that shot right about now?

Remember: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t shoot.
I await your responses.
I await the stories of your shots.


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