The Opportunity Lottery

How lucky are we?

How lucky are we that we get this opportunity?

How lucky are we that we get this opportunity to practice?

We get this opportunity to practice wisdom

Not to perfect it

Not to get it perfect

Just to practice

An opportunity to earn it

An opportunity to learn it

And an opportunity to apply it

How lucky are we?

How lucky are we that we get this opportunity?

How lucky are we that we get this opportunity to develop?

We get this opportunity to develop our own relationship

To develop our very own relationship with *technology

We get to enter into this relationship

We get to define it

We get to nurture it

We get to develop it

It’s not a fixed mandate, issued by society

It’s not a prophetic expectation, inherited from our parents

It’s not a static behavior, decreed by our neighbor

We get this opportunity to develop our very own relationship

We get this opportunity

How lucky are we?

How lucky are we?

How lucky are we that we can replace *technology with literally any other topic — any other topic can follow that *asterisk — and we can still apply the same sentiment?

*Time

*Ice cresm cones

*Plane rides

*Family

*Chosen Family

*Honesty

*Shopping for groceries

*Grilling shrimp on the barbie

*Drinking beer at a Super Bowl party

How lucky are we?

How lucky are we that we get to create?

How lucky are we that we get to create all of these individual relationships?

These individual relationships that inform our behavior

These individual relationships that gather into something bigger

These individual relationships that unite to make a life

We get to make these decisions

We get to develop these relationships

We get to design our life

My, my, my…

How lucky?

Can you see it?

Can you hear it?

Can you feel it?

Can you see, hear, and feel the reaction you’re having?

The reaction you’re having right now, as you’re reading, in this moment

Uh oh!

Now it feels like someone is looking back at you!

Don’t worry

Be still

I don’t intend to expose you

Because, remember, I’m not in the room with you

Look around you

Seriously, look up & look around

You’re reading this in solitude

It’s just you doing the reading

Nobody else can do it for you

It’s just you doing the thinking

Nobody else can control you

You’re completely alone in this reading & reacting

Before you think too hard about it…

Just observe

Just witness

Can you see the reaction you’re having?

Can you hear it?

Can you feel it?

What’s your relationship to this content?

What’s your relationship to me?

How is it changing as you continue reading?

What’s your relationship to where you’re currently sitting?

What’s your relationship to the device on which you’re reading?

How is it informed by your relationship with *technology?

You get to develop these relationships

You get to make these decisions

The first reaction — the initial reaction — is not the only

You get to choose

How do you want to develop these relationships?

We all get this opportunity to develop

We all get this opportunity to choose

We all get this opportunity to practice

We get this opportunity to practice wisdom

Not to perfect it

Not to get it perfect

Just to practice

An opportunity to earn it

An opportunity to learn it

And an opportunity to apply it

Now do you see?

How lucky are we?