The other day I was having lunch with my husband and we were discussing how life presents you with

so many challenges. Everything will being going along just fine and then, bam, something comes your way that you have to deal with. It sort of reminds me of playing poker.

Now, I’m not really a poker player, mind you, but my husband plays occasionally. He was playing Texas Hold ‘em for a while with a group of guys in our neighborhood and he did fairly well. My definition of doing fairly well at poker is simply winning more often than you lose. :)

I asked him to explain a little bit about the game and I learned that there is actually a good amount of strategy involved in the Hold ‘em variety of poker. Of course, the way you wager depends greatly on the strength of the cards you’re holding. However, there are many other factors to consider such as which community cards are on the table, whether or not another player might be bluffing, where you are in the betting cycle, and even where you’re seated in relation to the dealer. It’s really quite a bit more involved than that but you get the idea.

Last week my husband was diagnosed with a condition that will require him to take Prednisone for an extended period. We were discussing the many side effects from the long term usage of steroids. While there are many, we are both very grateful that such a drug exists that can alleviate his symptoms.

I always look for the silver lining in every situation. In this instance, the news was like the kick in the butt that we needed to ramp up our health and fitness regimen. Without receiving such news I wouldn’t be nearly as motivated to live a healthier lifestyle.

Thinking of my husband’s recent health issues as well as some of the other stress inducers of daily living, reminded me of playing cards. You might not always get the hand you want, but the important thing is to play the cards you’ve got to the best of your ability. Do this consistently and you have a winning formula.

"You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. You never count your money, when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’, when the dealin’s done." ~Kenny Rogers, The Gambler

Have you ever known anyone who had a great start in life but just didn’t play their cards right? I’ve known a few people in this category. They enter the world and are nurtured and loved and given every opportunity yet somewhere along the way, they just stop trying.

Then there are those who started the game with some pretty lousy cards but turned out to be magnificent players.

To win at poker you need to play every hand to the best of your ability. You need to learn the rules, maximize your wins, minimize your losses, and develop a consistent style. So then, it would appear that winning at the card game of life is a lot like playing poker.

The video below has nothing to do with poker but it truly is the most amazing card trick I’ve ever seen and so I thought I would share it in case you haven’t already seen it.

Filed under: Abundance • Action • Attitude • Change • Fear • Focus • Forgiveness • Gratitude • Health • Inspiration • L O V E • Mind Power • Personal Development • Self-Improvement • Uncategorized

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