Recently a young, female acquaintance was home for the holiday from college.  She is brilliant, in my mind, soaking in some very difficult classes and learning to speak Japanese... she seems born to educational greatness.  Then I noticed that she was home for quite a long time and I was curious about why she wasn't going back to school.  She explained that considering the current economic downturn she thought it best to concentrate briefly on learning a skill that would see her through difficult times as a back up plan, and might earn her some money while she continued her education.  She was taking a semester off of college to learn massage therapy.  What a very cool and serene perspective. 

In essence she was finding a couple of baskets in which to place eggs.  Like I said, brilliant!  I wish I knew then what I know now, and had the foresite to plan for the unexpected.  It is a lesson in two parts.  First, good fortune favors those who properly prepare.  Second, it is not too early to start.