Earning your cut from Para.

0-0 was the first to offer congratulations in the first linked thread.

The first P series SIG was the P210 in the linked thread.

All the posts in the second linked thread are written in the first person.

The proto was the first of it's kind, first P228 kinda?

You are the first born son?

So I guess the answer to the riddle is something always has to be first and if at first you don't succeed, try again.

The friendship that is made through Sigforum?

- All the posters in the second link above have something in common.
They all own P210 Sigs, same as 12131.

- The third link (to PROTO-1 Auction) is epic for a couple of reasons. Pick the right one.
It was the first gun auction on Sigforum. It was held in the lounge instead of the classifieds. Was sold here by the forum owner instead of the gun's owner. No import mark on the slide.

Your eyes, using them to shoot your P210

What is chance? Or taking chances? Taking risks?

You get nowhere in life without taking chances. The more chances you take, the more likely you are to succeed. Many have chanced, and won. Others have yet to do so. Some, sadly, never will.

What is overcoming obstacles? Enduring hardship?

"Into every life a little rain must fall." For some a good deal more than a little. You will never reach your destination until and unless you overcome them. The harder you work at overcoming the hardships life throws at you, the closer you'll be to your destination. Many have succeeded in overcoming the hurdles life has thrown in front of them, others are still working on it. Sadly, some will fail.

Getting out of a commie state and into free America to win your open Karma for all new escapes from Commie states.

A Plan.

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.

Pablo Picasso

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”
— Arthur Ashe

“Think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.”
— Henry Moore

“The point is not to get better than others, it’s to get better than the old version of yourself."
-Unknown

- All the posters in the second link above have something in common.
They make up a thread. Threads get old and drop off the forum but thanks to the wayback machine, they can be read again like the PROTO-1 auction.

wisdom

Living life, reaching birthdays. Speaking of birthdays, Sigforum will be 20 years old this December!

Your heart, blood running through your veins.

Your trigger finger!!!

With perseverance you can reach your goals.

My first thought is that the riddle describes the journey through life on Sig Forum.

We all start as basic "members", as are all the posters in the 2nd thread (other than the OP).

The more we participate in the forum, the closer we get to "senior" status as evidenced by a CUT. The only way to get that honor is through Para. Many have earned one, through time or sheer cleverness, but many more are still on the journey towards one.

If you don't play nice, however, you fail and get the ban hammer, as did one particularly snarky guy in the Proto-1 Auction thread.

Words ---- of wisdom, knowledge, kindness, encouragement, thankfulness, appreciation, etc.

Para and a CUT fits.

He has to approve new members.
Be an active contributing member and you'll be more likely to get one.
Many have one, the rest will eventually if they stay 10 years.
Some get the banhammer though.

Charity, one of the Seven Virtues.

No man, or woman, can do it all on their own. We all rely on the charity of others, to one degree or another, to reach our destination. Likewise, the greatest gift being giving, extending charity to others--even when it may be to our own disadvantage. Many instinctively understand this, or are taught this, at an early age. Some have to learn it. Sadly, some will never understand it.