Luck

The world is a crazy place because we don’t often want to risk making it less crazy.  We are, by default, at homeostasis, only reacting when the entire system is clearly at risk.  That’s why it’s often so much easier to just do what other people are doing, because, what support is there to go out there on your own? If everyone knew how to do something risky, do something unsuggested, then– wouldn’t it be suggested? There’d be more people around you doing it then.  What incentive is there for you to stick out your neck?

There’s a really bad comparison that people make, which is that getting what you want in life is like playing the lottery– you can’t win if you don’t play.  That analogy implies that good fortune comes to those who do near nothing but offer some customary, unbelieving libations; you can’t convince me that buying a lotto ticket takes discipline or substance.  Just like how you can go to school and get that diploma and expect a job, but in most cases, I’d say you’re probably not going to get much out of it if you don’t beleive in it a bit more than that.

A better analogy, though still limited, might be one of playing for money in a game of cards.  At least in this scenario, there is a question of skill involved.  You can practice, you can do research, you can do things that affect your standing and the likelihood of favorable outcomes for you.  Sometimes bad things will happen, but for the most part, there is a relationship between your inputs and the outcomes.

But even that analogy is lacking, because a game of cards is a relatively closed system compared to what is ultimately a game of life.  Life is entirely more fun to play  because there are infinitely more collapsible levels of complexity to it– and if you don’t like the rules, chances are, you can change the rules, or you can play a different game.  There is an important difference between waiting on chance, and taking risks.  The latter implies an understanding of potential danger.  Through accumulated skill though, one can minimize losses while increasing gains, if they can stomach it all responsibly by keeping it in the context of a big picture.

That means that, although lately I’ve been a wreck of emotions, basically crashing my way like an elephant in a china shop through work, school and personal life, the fact is, this is the way that I chose to do it because I know what I want, and I’ve made the choices, however difficult, to go towards these goals.

It’s not that my faith in the goodness of others is so low that I can’t wait for people to help– it’s simply that, I don’t play the lotto.  There’s the difference between playing a game of poker and playing the lottery.  And even a game of poker requires discipline, analysis, brains– it isn’t supposed to be gambling, it’s gaming.  At the highest levels, it’s about hacking.

So when bad things in life happen?  Okay, that’s too bad.  But that’s not going to stop me.  I’m too self-centered for that.  Life’s bad surprises  might get a good kick in here and there, but overal, I’m not charitible enough to forfeit the rest of the game.