Poker and Life
Texas Hold Em. You’re always dealt with two cards. Everyone starts off with an equal number of chips. But then not everyone has great cards. But the opportunities are there, just floating around, it’s up to you how much chips you’re going to lay on the table.
Sometimes you have “ok” kind of cards, like a Jack and a Five before the flop. And you have a decent number of chips, so you raise. And then the flop unfolds and there’s another Jack— you now have a pair. Or it’s two Jacks and another Five, then you have an eff-ing Full House — which almost always wins. And all the players around you think you’re bluffing because you’re going all in on these great, great cards. But then you win, of course. Moment of triumph which lasts about five minutes, and then the next cards are dealt.
Then you have great cards, like a pair of Aces. Even before the flop, you bet half of your chips, and your opponents don’t catch your bluff. Especially one opponent. The flop unfolds, and it’s two deuces and a three, and you bet the other half of your pot. This other opponent goes all in too. You think you’re going to win — you have a pair of Aces anyway. You’re thinking “What the hell is this moron doing? I have a pair of f*cking Aces”. Until he shows his cards and he has the other pair of deuces. Imagine that. Four two’s beat two Aces.
But then you can also have like sucky cards, like a two and a three–same suit. Right of the bat, you fold. The flop unfolds and it’s a four, a five and a six— with the same suit as the sucky cards you just folded. You could have gotten a frigging Royal Flush if you only took the risk. You do nothing but sip on your beer and wait for the next turn.
All of these things, in life, has happened to us in one way or another.
The job you turned down which now pays twice your current salary. The boyfriend you broke up with who’s now a friggin millionaire. The book you bought for P1,500 which is now, six months later, sold at half off (HARRY POTTER!!!!)
Or on the lighter side, it could be your current job which used to pay a ridiculous salary and now gives you more than enough. Or a suitor you took a chance on — not very good-looking, not that successful — and turned out to be the love of your life.
The thing is, cards will always be dealt — you always have as much a chance as all the others. The way to winning is taking risks.
Take those risks.
