I Almost Won the Lottery and I Am Still Smiling About It

Win For Life - New York Lottery

Back when the Win For Life scratch-off game first came out in New York, I had a routine. After work, I went to the gym. Then I stopped by my parents' house for a good Haitian meal. From there, I drove to the convenience store on Hickory Street in Spring Valley to buy two Win For Life tickets. Every afternoon, same routine. Then I went home.

One day, as I was leaving my parents' house and getting into my car, one of my father's neighbors stopped me. He was very talkative and wanted to chat about everything and nothing. I listened politely, even though I was ready to go.

When I finally arrived at the convenience store and asked for my usual two Win For Life tickets, something caught my eye. The store owner was posting copies of a winning ticket on the wall.

Someone had just won.
The person who bought tickets right before me.

I stood there for a moment, processing what I was seeing. If I had left my parents' house a few minutes earlier, if I had not stopped to talk, that ticket could have been mine.

So what was it? Bad luck? Or perfect timing for someone else?

I could have walked away frustrated, replaying the moment in my head. Instead, I laughed. Not out of bitterness, but out of perspective. Life has a way of reminding us that not everything meant for us arrives when we expect it to.

That conversation, as pointless as it felt at the time, delayed me just long enough for someone else to receive their blessing. And maybe that was exactly how it was supposed to happen.

I write this today with a smile on my face.
And I imagine God smiling too.

Do not take life too seriously, my friend. If you do, you may miss the lesson while chasing the moment.

Sometimes it is not that you are out of luck.
Maybe it is simply not your time yet.

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