you technically already won a major lottery by being born. You Are Here. The chances of YOU being here were 1 in about 300 million. You have better odds of winning the NY Lottery or MegaMillions.
Talk about luck.
If your parents had done anything differently- a different day, a different hour, a different position- you may not be here.
So now that you’re here? Well, you should appreciate it. So what if you lost a job, a race, a love interest, or aren’t as thin as you’d like. YOU ARE HERE. Those things are pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things.
If you were born in a country like the US, you have a lot of freedom. Do you know what the odds of being born in the US are? 1 in 50. That means about 49 people are born in countries with less freedom, some with practically no freedom. Some people are born into countries where they don’t have the right to decide who to marry, what to do with their life, or if they get to live.
Think about the math on that one…the odds of being born at all, and being born in the US, are now in the billions. You won a lottery where the odds were 15 billion against you. Sort of changes your perspective, no?
Every day is a gift. You only live once. When you are 100 years old, do you want to look back and feel like you wasted your time here? That you blew through your lottery winnings with nothing to show for it? Wasted days, years? Or would you rather look back on a life well-lived, proudly lived, happily lived and enjoyed each day?
You are here, you are very lucky, and each day you are here you are luckier. Each day is a new chance to do things right, live out your dreams, and make yourself and others happy you won the lottery of life.
Wow, those are some odds!
I love reading your blog. I always leave feeling so much better about things….THANKS!
Wow, I totally agree Penelope! We are so incredibly blessed in America and don’t even realize it most of the time. We complain about what we don’t have instead of relishing in our piles of blessings!
Thank you for this reminder!
These are great things to remember, especially when you’re down.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the little things and lose sight of what’s really important.
What an inspirational post girlie!!! It is so true, though I do wish to be thinner, at least for our trip to Disneyland next month 🙂
It is the most basic thing that we take for granted, I never gave it much thought until now, but you’re so right…
Yes, we definitely have to live in the now! I have had a pretty tough year so far, and through it all I keep telling myself that “yes, it could be worse.” We have to enjoy what we do have and focus on the good things in life!
I’m a proud Canadian here, but I think what you said applies to us too 🙂
You are an inspiration. Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
Kas
I actually originally wrote it as US, Canada, and Europe, but I only knew the odds for being born in the US, so I took the other two out 🙂
Good reminder to be thankful you are ALIVE!
I love this post! You always put a smile on my face that is for sure!
Great insight Penelope! I never thought about the odds of being born before. And I do fully appreciate being born in USA, the land of freedom & justice. May she forever stay free!
I often think about this and even though there have been rough times in my life (from when I was a child throughout my adult life) I am still very glad that all the things aligned to bring me to the place that I am now. I have the two greatest sons in the world and the sweetest husband anyone could ask for.
I think G-d knew what he was doing when he put my screwed up parents together. Thanks for bringing me back into perspective. Love you!!
HUGGLES.
You are so awesome! Thanks for reminding me WHY I am a positive person. I have been having some “days” …
Wow, that’s a great way to look at life! I never thought of that before, but you are totally right!