When life feels rigged
The customer behind me joined the conversation, “You can have my tickets if you want to wait for them.” He’d overheard my plans for the million dollars we plan on winning through the grocery store’s Monopoly game and showed support. As I stood aside, an attempt to give the customer privacy while checking out, the level of awkward rose and I contemplated my “why”. Why would someone subject themselves to discomfort for something trivial? What felt like hours later and with more game pieces in hand I headed home with an answer to my “why”.
Understanding “Why” Will Shape Your Path
Usually we’re stuck on the superficial “why” such as why do we go to work? To pay our bills (duh). Why that job? Why here and not there? When we’re unwilling to journey into the uncomfortable we find ourselves settling for less and dreams fade then evaporate.
Knowing “Why” Will Take You to Exciting Places
Understanding why we continue to work for an employer, why we continue to say yes to our spouse, why we suffer through workouts at the gym invites strength and courage into our lives.
When labor went sideways my why was exposed: Healthy baby at all costs. Focused on my why and surrounded by prayer, despite overwhelming fear, I had strength to endure and bring an incredible boy into the world. Moms give their best for their kids without question and hesitation because they know their why. Ask many new Panhandle families why they moved to the region and you’ll catch stories of adventure and excitement. When we know why the impossible and impractical forges new paths.
Monopoly brings new people and experiences into my life. From unexpected conversations in the checkout line and friends handing tickets to me to mysterious people taping bags of tickets to the staff white board with my name on them it’s opened the doors to unexpected thoughtfulness (even if they think I’m crazy) and random acts of niceness.
Why Isn’t Defeated by Circumstances
Realistically our family won’t win the million dollars but that doesn’t extinguish the why. The power of why is greater than the prize itself. Perhaps the greatest win from this silly Monopoly game is how it’s further shaped one why my husband and I have pursued from the beginning of our relationship: Providing housing for families and passive income to reinvest in helping others.
Why Starts Small
Our why started small and so can yours. Even if it seems impossible, give yourself some mental space to contemplate potentially scary whys in your life. It might start as small as shifting your schedule by minutes to make space for something as important as alone time or coffee with a friend. It might be as monumental as going back to school for a degree or certification, applying for a shift change so you can see your family, or determination to work things through in a relationship.
We’re taking the Monopoly game seriously around our home but we take our why more seriously. Take time this week to contemplate your why and start living it out!