When I travel, I try to find little hole-in-the-wall local places to eat at. Sometimes that is a very wise decision (for the food is pure decliciousness), and other times…not so much.
I had lunch in this little local restaurant in a small town in Kansas and found myself eavesdropping on the conversation between the waitress and two of her other tables. They were discussing what the lottery was up to and what they were going to do with the money when they won. I gathered they all already had tickets and were planning on buying more today before they announce the winner later on.
I thought about turning around and telling them, “You guys are dumb.”
But I decided not to for fear that grandma might beat me with her walker. Of course they would argue what most lotto participants would say: “Somebody’s got to win…it may as well be me.” Sure, that may be true (I decided against explaining to them that their odds are better to get struck by lightning twice and get swallowed by a whale…in Kansas), but what bothered me was their attitude towards the lotto.
To them, it was their ticket to freedom. It was their one-way pass out of their current mediocrity and into a “better” life. It was as if they were helpless in their situation and the only thing that could rescue them was winning the lottery. Winning the lotto may be a shortcut to a “better” life for some, but here’s a news flash…
You’re Not Going To Win. You’re Not Going To Get Rich Quick. Regis And Howie Aren’t Offering You Suitcases Full Of Money.
But tell you what…instead of just breaking your heart with this fact, let me at least give you some hope. You know how you can get rich and get out of your boring existence?
Hard work. Set goals. Think of what could be rather than what is. Don’t give up. Stop settling.
These aren’t just cliche motivational phrases. When you realize that there are no shortcuts and you start to take ownership for your own life, things will start to improve.
Until then…keep buying lottery tickets.
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