Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Theyfeelthatthere’snothingtheycandoaboutit,sotheyavoidresponsibilityfortheirsituation.Theyfigure,“Ididn’tchoosemycrappygenetics,soit’snotmyfaultifthingsgowrong.”

           Andit’strue,it’snottheirfault.

           Butit’sstilltheirresponsibility.

           Backincollege,Ihadabitofadelusionalfantasyofbecomingaprofessionalpokerplayer.Iwonmoneyandeverything,anditwasfun,butafteralmostayearofseriousplay,Iquit.Thelifestyleofstayingupallnightstaringatacomputerscreen,winningthousandsofdollarsonedayandthenlosingmostofitthenext,wasn’tforme,anditwasn’texactlythemosthealthyoremotionallystablemeansofearningaliving.ButmytimeplayingpokerhadasurprisinglyprofoundinfluenceonthewayIseelife.

           Thebeautyofpokeristhatwhileluckisalwaysinvolved,luckdoesn’tdictatethelong-termresultsofthegame.Apersoncangetdealtterriblecardsandbeatsomeonewhowasdealtgreatcards.Sure,thepersonwhogetsdealtgreatcardshasahigherlikelihoodofwinningthehand,butultimatelythewinnerisdeterminedby—yup,youguessedit—thechoiceseachplayermakesthroughoutplay.

           Iseelifeinthesameterms.Weallgetdealtcards.Someofusgetbettercardsthanothers.Andwhileit’seasytogethunguponourcards,andfeelwegotscrewedover,therealgameliesinthechoiceswemakewiththosecards,theriskswedecidetotake,andtheconsequenceswechoosetolivewith.