The Lottery of Life

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“Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.” – Barry Switzer

My friend, Eric (from the recent On The Bus podcast), and I recently made a lottery ticket pact. Neither of us usually buys lottery tickets. But we saw a condo for sale at the place we like to go to on Whidbey Island. We can’t afford it, so we decided to buy a PowerBall ticket and if we won, we’d buy it.

I know, a silly idea all around. But the funny thing was that once we’d bought the ticket, I was beset by the idea that I didn’t want to win the lottery because I wanted to earn what I have in life.

Following this stream of consciousness made me realize how many “lotteries” I’ve already won in life.

Being raised by an incredibly smart mom who told me I could be whatever I wanted as long as I was willing to put in the effort.

Having a loving dad that did the work to follow the example of Jesus to love and accept everyone.

Living at a time when women can get credit, buy houses, and use IVF to have children.

Benefitting from mentors who were willing to help me discern what is important, how to navigate adversity, and retain integrity.

Having technical skills at a time when personal computers, the Internet, and mobile technology emerged.

Being blessed with kids that were healthy when they were born and being able to afford good health care for me and my children to help keep us well.

Living in the Pacific Northwest where there are mountains to climb, beaches to comb, and summer weather so nice that most people just want to stay near home. At least for these five months.

Having incredible friends who have walked alongside me for ups, downs, and adventures.

And the list goes on and on. It makes me realize how much my independence and sense of earning is a tenuous construct. It reminds me to balance my dreams with not just what I want and need, but what I can give in thanks.

Or, to put it briefly in a phrase I learned from Dr. Gerald Stein: Tikkun Olam – repair the world.

78 thoughts on “The Lottery of Life”

  4. So many blessings Wynne! You’re right, you’ve already won the lottery. Beautiful reflection and it’s amazing how many blessings we can count when we take notice. I just posted on Instagram about the art of noticing. When we notice with gratitude it makes such a difference.
    And one more thing, 5 months of summer? That is a major thing to be grateful for. 😆
    Have a beautiful day my friend. 💕

    Liked by 6 people

    1. The art of noticing — I love that, Alegria! I need to find that IG post of yours. Beautiful!

      And I’m double checking the 5 months but yes, I’d say June – October are especially nice in the PNW! 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  5. What a delightful and encouraging post to start the week with Wynne. 🤗💖🥰💕😁 I love your gratitude in the things that mean something in your life that you already won! Love this and love how you metaphorically married the concept to your reality and ours! Have a FANtabulous week! 🙏🏼🥂😊

    Liked by 5 people

  8. A fine post, Wynne. It is hard to pin down quotes. The alleged Barry Switzer quote is one I first heard from Tom Harkin, who allegedly said, “George Bush (the father) was born on third base and thought he hit triple.”

    I don’t know whether there is a possible third author or a twenty-third!

    Thanks, too, for the shout-out. Repair the world, indeed, including support for IVF, allowing for your kids to be born.

    Liked by 5 people

  12. Bountiful blessings! Most of us would be able to count many blessings that didn’t exist 100 years ago, even if there are still many problems to deal with. Gratitude is a wonderful tool for refocusing the mi d to improve mental health.

    I buy lottery tickets, because it is fun to dream of being able to do things that I might not otherwise be able to.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. ☺️😉 sometimes having that hope can help us through a current difficulty.

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  13. So beautiful 🤩! When we achieve something through hard work it satisfies the heart more than something we get through lottery. Anyhow once a while it is fun to play and get a kick🙂 out of it, maybe win 10 dollars and go for an ice cream with that money.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. I love this Wynne. It’s so important to count our blessings. I had a similar lottery pact with a co-worker who lived in another province. After a particularly bad day at work, we decided to each buy a lottery ticket in our respective province and split the winnings if we won. Four years later, we’re keeping up the pact. We haven’t won yet but, now that I’m retired, it gives us a reason to stay connected.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. I still am a gambler at heart from my Irish heritage in the City of New York. However, we have worked hard for what we have but I do confess to enjoying the thrill of scratch offs.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. Lovely post. I agree with you about earning what I need in my life. And appreciating the lottery I have already won. The riches in the form of my family, friends, faith, love and nature.

    Love

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Hey, how do I get in on this lottery deal! Ha, ha. What a great perspective, especially for a Monday, Wynne. Instead of crying that you don’t have all the money in the world, you see all the ways you’ve been blessed. A good lesson for me Wynne. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Nice reflection, point taken, and I love the Barry Switzer quote. Having said that- if I ever get lucky enough to win the lottery and can buy a beach house without earning it, I’ll do it without remorse 😅

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes of course you’re invited! If I get my way it will either be in Rehoboth or a town a few miles south called Bethany Beach, where we are right now😁 Rehoboth & Bethany are definitely my favorites!

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  24. Great reflection, Wynne. You’ve already won the lottery and will continue to win it every year for the rest of your life. Every new experience, seeing your kids grow to adulthood, and other beautiful things still in the works are going to be blessings and, in a sense, better than winning an actual lottery.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. What a lovely list of lottery winnings, Wynne! 💞💞💞 So many of them we take for granted, and yet others can only dream of such things. Beautifully written! 💞💞💞

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Oh to win the lottery indeed. Those lottery daydream activities are always fun to do! Fingers crossed you both win! 🙂

    It’s wonderful though that you also recognize the many wins you already have in your life, the priceless and valuable blessings, including your kids. I do agree that when we take the time to recognize these, our life feels fuller and more grounded.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. Yep, we have truly won the lottery. I occasionally play the lottery and tell myself that I’ll be generous and pay it forward, but in so many ways I’ve already won. Thank you for reminding me how fortunate I already am.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. It makes me realize how much my independence and sense of earning is a tenuous construct.

    Wonderful conclusion. I sometimes think of the older women who I worked with right out of college and the stories they told about their work experiences. We all build on those who came before.

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  36. Beautiful self-reflection. The lottery dream can be fun, and it is an enjoyable conversation to have on a road trip as you pass the billboards that display the astronomical numbers.  

    Liked by 2 people

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