3by9

Gotta love it when it all comes together…

I learned early in life, for me, when I make sound decisions I receive a “reward” for my effort. It is almost like I’m in a hall with doors and after the results of the decision occur, I can see specific doors opening and closing based on decisions I made. Sometimes it is tough for me to do “the right thing” especially when I tend to be impulsive spontaneous but it is times like this when it is worth it.

Here’s an example: I play World of Warcraft. I enjoy the game but as some of you might know, I had alt-itis. Instead of reaching 70 I’d create another toon and another toon. Weird I know, and I can’t really explain it. Anyway, I had the opportunity to get in the WotLK beta and I turned it down. I thought about it (and since I do betas I “did” want to be in it) there were some things I needed to finish (like why I would get to Outlands and crap out on the game) and a project I wanted to focus on. So I passed on the opportunity and trust me when I say it killed me a little on the inside. I had my reasons but to sum it up I wanted to do things “right”. Instead of playing in the beta I switched to a PvP server and started leveling my toons. During this time I had a bet with someone about reaching 70. That bet complimented my goal of leveling my new PvP toon. I went for it and of course trash talking always gets my attention.

Things were going great. I conquered hurdles I was unable to overcome previously, I’m a couple of levels from 70, I’m enjoying my toon on a PvP server - but keeping track of the beta information I would drool looking at the movies. However, I had an agenda and I forced myself to stay on course.

Then I ran into a problem. I ran into a elite mob I couldn’t kill. I should be able to kill it I couldn’t. I figured out why and what I “really” wanted to do was correct the problem because that’s “fun” to me. I didn’t have time though, because I had a bet to win. Inside I started to mumble and grumble because my fun factor was diminishing. When the opportunity came up to end the bet, I thought about it a minute and decided I was going to do what was fun for me - so I killed the bet. I proved myself - 70 was a no-brainer at the time when I killed the bet. I began happily training different pets, working on a new project. Life was good.

Then a funny thing happened: I got a beta invite.

Now let me tell you that there aren’t words to describe when something you want deep down happens by surprise all on its own. It was such a shock and it was pure glee. I got the beta invite on my own - I was meant to be in the beta.

However, by waiting a couple of weeks I accomplished a lot. If I took the offer for the beta invite earlier, I wouldn’t have accomplished as much as I did with my new toon on the PvP server. I would have been in beta. I would be in a worse position of having to level before the expansion comes out. After playing in the beta that would be torture. Now? I can grab those last levels at my leisure…right in time for the 60-70 speed boost to come out. And play in the beta right when they added 80 pre-mades (I’m playing at level 80 with uber gear - what I’ll be working towards when the expansion is released. Meaning - I won’t be in paradise now with new content now and in hell when the expansion comes out leveling all over again - I’m already 80 baby!).

And let’s not forget I’m finishing a 9rules round and I have other responsibilities I have to maintain. The way it worked out, I can do it all and it balances perfect.

Got.To.Love.It!

If I had not killed the bet, I would have had the choice of losing the bet or playing in the beta. I would have been miserable. What if I didn’t get in the beta? Well, that would have been okay too because I’d still have a 70 on a PvP server (but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t still drool at the beta coverage I looked at). I still would have been in a “stronger” position. Now I’m in an uber ridiculously strong “you can’t touch this” position.

Sure, bad things happen to good people but I found in my life, if I do right…I get rewarded. If I do “wrong” (something I know I’m not supposed to be doing without making up for it somehow) I end up screwing myself over.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a beta to play.

*I wrote this article early while the patches download. See, another solid decision and by the time you read this…I’ll most likely be playing my ass off.*

Happy Friday!