I Deserve To...
The other day I found myself buying a lottery ticket because I thought that I deserved to win the lottery. Even though I didn't really expect to win I decided to spend $2 on a scratch-off because I knew that I deserved to win. Before even checking to see if I hit the jackpot I stopped and asked myself why I thought I deserved to win the lottery. Although I consider myself a kind, thoughtful, and compassionate person I know that I’ve got my flaws too. There are so many amazing people out there in the world so if I deserve to win the lottery wouldn’t that mean they deserve to win it just as much as I do? Maybe the answer is yes; we all deserve to win the lottery but the truth is we can’t all be lottery winners.
I think it’s safe to say people want to win the lottery because they want more money. After all who doesn’t want more money? Money is a crucial part of living and everyone needs it to survive and more money allows for more luxuries in life. Imagine spending mere dollars on a piece of paper that could win you millions of dollars. It sounds so easy! Who doesn’t find a quick fix appealing? Always working hard with little movement leaves people yearning for an easy snap of the fingers solution. It’s fun to fantasize about what you would do with all your lottery winnings but it’s dangerous to live in that place. Living in a fantasy world halts us from taking action towards the things we want. If you stay focused on the quick fix you’ll spend all your money on lottery tickets instead of saving that money to buy what it is you wanted in the first place. I know it’s hard to have to wait to see results. Waiting may mean living in a space full of sacrifice, frustration, and sadness. Would you rather have what you want immediately or sacrifice to get to where you want to be? Although, the answer seems like a no-brainer it is important to remember that quick fixes are usually just temporary fixes while hard work leads to longer-lasting results. It makes sense if you think about the reasons why. When you put in the effort and sacrifice you’ll be more inclined to keep working hard to hold onto what you’ve earned while continuing to strive towards further goals.
Some people have things handed to them, others work really hard to get what they want and succeed, and others fight for what they need and still struggle. Most of the time, life is unfair. It’s not something people want to hear but maybe there can be comfort in holding onto those words. Sometimes acknowledging life’s unfairness can help people accept that not everything and everyone start out equal and life is not about trying to catch up to others. The way to use the reality of life’s unfairness to one’s advantage is to forget it exists and instead focus on your life, what you want, and where you want to be. It’s easy to compare yourself to others but it won’t usually leave you feeling good.
As you may have guessed, I did not win the lottery that day. I did, however, begin to appreciate all the other ways I have worked hard to get to where I am. I suggest giving yourself time to think about what you deserve as well as what actions you can take to get to where you want to be.