Chess and Life

I find that chess is very much like life.  The decisions you make early on have a great impact on what options will be available later.  Some times I will pursue a line that seems so good it's practically bullet proof, only to find myself in such a pickle, that only a mistake from my opponent or a miracle can save me from certain and unavoidable defeat.  If I'm so stuck in the here and now, and I'm not looking at the bigger picture, I will surely walk the path of defeat.