Somebody Won an iPad

The owner of my insurance agency, Summer Group, called me at work to tell me to watch the video he just emailed to his customers. "I think you should watch it.", he said. I knew immediately that I won something but I played along and brought the video up on my phone. I had to act surprised but really I was just happy. Here is the video:

I know I am lucky even though I don't believe in luck as a paranormal phenomenon. I believe the more prepared you are, the luckier you get. However, when I think back to all the prizes I've won (including the car DJ drives, raffles at work, cakewalks, trade show raffles, etc.) that have little do to with preparation, skill or talent, I know that I am luckier than most people. I can't remember the last time I lost money in Vegas, for example, even if I only played chance games. The stocks I've picked have been nearly all winners.

DJ brought up a good point about my lifelong ability to play cards (there was a period of time when I relied upon poker winnings to make ends meet). He said, "Dad, what if you're not that good at poker - just lucky?" I have thought about that. I'm horrible at chess but I win at games that include an element of luck such as backgammon. The evidence seems to support his hypothesis. I am over confident in my mental ability primarily due to what poker players have called "a golden horseshoe shoved up [my] ass." I love to hear that when I'm scooping a big pot. You see, in poker, every win looks like luck.

Maybe some people just have a lifetime of good fortune. Maybe it's just attitude or maybe it's possible to win 50.1% of your even money bets over a lifetime which means you're always ahead. If so, I'm grateful it's me.