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The game of life
Life is full of mysteries. Some people spend their entire lives trying to discover themselves, and even yet they leave this world without getting the answers to their questions. Those who have found answers argue that they have learned to appreciate the world as it is. Such people appreciate the importance of accepting that they cannot control everything. Also, they have learned that they can only make decisions using the incomplete information presented to them. Life presents to people a myriad of chances and opportunities and only intelligent and lucky people can succeed. People try to seek answers to questions about life via various means. Some resort to their religions, others to sink themselves to scientific research while others engage in games. It does not matter the route as long as one arrives at the end.
People always try to question things in life. For example, what determines success? Is it hard work? Is it passion? Is it talent? Is it luck? Is it intelligence? Is it determination? Of course, many people would quickly conclude that success is determined by hard work, determination, and talent. Some people will not agree with this because success may come through luck. The introduction of luck into the field of life sprouts out many questions, some of which no one has answers. Yet one may prefer to be lucky rather than good enough. The world’s richest people are not the most intelligent people but the luckiest people. There is no denying that intelligence and talent increases one’s chances of success. Just how much of my life could I take credit for, and how much was just simple duck luck? (Konnokova)
The author alludes to the importance of luck in our lives that people take for granted. For example, Konnikova states that her greatest luck was when her parents left the former Soviet Union. According to the writer, if they had not left she would not have been exposed to the entire world of opportunities. She further illustrates that her husband lost his job because of the bad luck that left her in a difficult situation where she had to take care of the family. Even the most skilled persons run out of luck. For example, Konnokova’s mother must have been highly skilled as the author alludes that she was her mentor yet she unluckily lost her job. Desperate situations like this in life may either point a person to success or further failure in life. The author kept on asking herself what anchored people to live. Maria is convinced that luck plays a significant role. She states that it was just because of bad luck that she contracted an idiopathic condition.
Desperate situations call for desperate measures. In Maria’s case, she decided to venture into poker to seek the answers to life. She uses the poker game to simplify the game of life. The poker game is played using cards. It is a serious gambling business around the world. Normally, the players collect cards that they use to play with. There is always one card on the table that all the players are aware of and have to conform with while the rest of the cards are either with the players or anonymous. The author mirrors the poker game to life. In the poker game, the player always has to decide despite the lack of complete information. Maria acknowledges that a player has to be confident when they play the game. She points out that no decision is right. It all depends on luck. One can make a correct decision but still, lose the game if luck does not come knocking on their door. According to Maria, even the least skilled player can win based on their luck. The message is to encourage people to embrace life uncertainties.
People learn values through various events in life. Maria states that she learned about emotional resilience in the game. Emotional resilience allows one to develop positive self-evaluation even when faced with difficult circumstances. In life, a person will always face both ups and downs. Most people fail because they fail to get up after faltering. The main reason is that some people keep whining over failed opportunities instead of focusing on the future. The writer encourages people to develop a positive mindset. She illustrates this using the poker game. Konnokova mentions an incident where she lost the game at a critical time. She alludes that after losing the game, she was anxious to explain to everyone how she was robbed a moment of glory. However, Erik discouraged her from becoming a bad beat player. Bad beat players have a bad mental habit. Such players tend to focus on the negative impact of losing a game. Maria cautions people from complaining about missed life instances lest they will chase people from their circle.
She illustrates that when people stagnate on their failures in the long run they lose sight of new opportunities. Victors of bad outcomes are the most successful in life. For example, Maria’s husband lost her job but because of the positive mindset, he used this opportunity to establish his business. Good mental health will enable an individual to make peace with life uncertainties. Good mental health also facilitates the process of accepting worse situations.
Work cited
Konnokova, Maria. The game of life: Maria Konnokova on what she’s learned from poker, 27 June 2020.
