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Life is a gamble. For some, it's a guaranteed success. For others, it's a sure failure. But no matter who you are, what your circumstances are, if you play your cards right- so to speak- you have the best chance of winning the game. Life is not holding good cards but learning to play them well.
I'm not sure where I learned this- maybe a fortune cookie or a comic on the back of a cereal box, but it has stuck with me. Most people don't realize that they have poor hands, and they stubbornly stick to them even when it only worsens their condition.
But being constructive and inventive is half the fun of playing the game. Sometimes, you have to gamble to win. Sometimes you have to play a bad hand well to get an even better hand. A bad hand can get better, but sometimes you have to accept the lousy hand you have and improve it. Life is not holding good cards but sometimes playing a poor hand well.
I have several things to say about this little gem of wisdom. First off, I think we all agree with it: life is a gamble. But our interpretation of "gamble" varies from person to person according to our desire for success. Some people gamble in hopes of gaining wealth, fame, and happiness.
They would gamble on the stock market, play the lottery, or participate in illegal activities such as burglary and fraud. Others would rather not "gamble" on themselves since they feel their success is guaranteed. They prefer to take a less risky approach to life by choosing a well-paying career or getting married as soon as possible. However, for sure: we all have to play the cards we're dealt well if we want more in our hands.
"But what if you don't know the rules?" This is a widespread reaction to this idea. But do you? Is there something else you can do instead? I may not know the rules of life, but that doesn't mean I can't play the game well regardless.
If a person doesn't know how to play the game of life, they probably should not be playing it. If a person knows how to play it and still isn't satisfied with their results, they should change their strategy. Sometimes, you throw away the cards you have and get new ones. Sometimes, you just improve your hand.
Here is the part I enjoy most about this saying: it teaches us to be optimistic and inventive. Too often, people are fed up with a situation they are in. They give up on playing the game altogether, only to find that their situation soon improves- not because they left the game but because they decided to change their strategy. But this saying teaches us that the cards you were dealt are wrong sometimes. But sometimes, you have to play those cards well to win.
Think about how many people throw away great life experiences and opportunities because they don't want their situation to worsen. "I'm not going to take this chance! I'm going to sit home and await my fate.