Local Man Fools Himself into Thinking Dreams Can Come True
A Virginia man experienced a wave of foolish optimism on his way to work when he made a detour to purchase a drink and ended up winning $100,000 through the lottery. Despite the odds of winning these sorts of things being astronomically low, the man fell prey to the age-old adage that if you take a chance good things will happen to you.
“Can you believe it?” the man exclaimed, clearly still surprised at his luck. “I never win anything! This is like a dream come true!”
Of course, one look around the office would tell you that this man has clearly set his expectations way too low. A coffee mug with “World’s Okayest Boss” etched onto the side, a “Hang in there, Baby!” kitten poster tacked above his computer monitor, and a sense of resignation that makes you wonder whether he ever dared to dream at all.
But perhaps that’s why this story is so appealing–it’s inspiring to see someone with no expectations have them met in such a spectacular fashion. It’s a reminder for all of us to keep on dreaming, to keep on hoping, and to keep on throwing our money at a system that is clearly rigged against us.
When asked what he plans to do with his newfound riches, the man replied, “Honestly, this couldn’t have come at a better time. My cat is sick and I could really use the extra money to take her to the vet.”
We all know what that really means. It means he’s going to blow it on a fancy new TV, a couple of cases of beer, and a round of drinks for the guys the next time they go out to the local watering hole.
But hey, who are any of us to judge what this man does with his money? It’s his right to waste it on frivolous things and to let the dream of winning the lottery fuel his wild imagination.
For those of you following along at home, the odds of winning the lottery are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. That’s 292.2 million. With an M.
Let that soak in for a minute. It means you’re more likely to be crushed by a meteorite, killed by a vending machine, or attacked by a swarm of angry bees than you are to win the lottery.
So why do we keep buying tickets? Is it a desperation to escape the monotony of our daily lives? Or is it simply the allure of the grand prize?
Whatever it is, we all have to admit there’s something magical about the idea of winning the lottery. The idea that you can be the one person in 292.2 million who takes home the prize and changes their life forever.
This Virginia man may not have been that one person, but for a fleeting moment he got to feel like he was. And really, isn’t that all any of us really want–to feel like we have a chance?
