Once, I met a taxi driver, a man in his late 30s, who picked me up and drove me to my destination. As we 1 along the road, I asked him how his business was. He told me 2 that his business was just fine, but the cost of gas was really hurting his bottom line. We then 3 a spirited discussion and got around to discussing the job environment. He told me that he had difficulty getting another type of work because of his 4 .”I am a former criminal," he said 5 , "People look at my record and then I'm done," he complained.“I know I messed up but I've turned my life 6 and have been clean for several years", he went on to explain quietly and without 7 “It is never 8 to start a new life, "I said, 9 the critical thing is that you are starting and that you have options." The driver seemed to be 10 as he looked back at me from the front seat. "Like what kind of options?" He asked. “If you don't want to drive a taxi for the rest of your life, then you can make a 11 to go back to school, even part-time, so you can 12 for a trade or some other occupation you are interested in." I replied. Later, as I said goodbye to the driver, I felt a moment of pain for him. But, at the same time, the driver is like a lot of other people I have met over the years—only 13 is that they are not former criminals. They are still in a type of prison each day of the week. These are people who already have good jobs and good reputations but are totally 14 with their lives. The daily 15 they go to is one where work is 16 , where each day is full of worry wishing for something better. This is a prison of the 17 . If these words 18 your daily life, know that there is always an opportunity to 19 your life if you set your sights on a higher level and take action towards it. The decision is yours and yours 20 .