Daring to dream

Posted 1/12/16

You may already be holding a life-changing ticket. Lottery fever has reached unprecedented levels of late, with thousands of Rhode Islanders buying up Powerball tickets ahead of drawings last …

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Daring to dream

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You may already be holding a life-changing ticket. Lottery fever has reached unprecedented levels of late, with thousands of Rhode Islanders buying up Powerball tickets ahead of drawings last Wednesday and Saturday. The appeal is far from a secret – after more than two months without a top-prize winner, the game’s jackpot as of Monday had grown to a world-record $1.4 billion, a figure so large it exceeds the maximum that can be displayed on most billboards and retailer signs.

Of course, those dreaming of instant riches face some other, more daunting numbers.

The odds of winning Powerball are one in 292.2 million. In a nation of approximately 309 million people, that means any given person has a better shot at being struck by lightning or becoming president of the United States than of matching the magic six-number combination. The taxman, too, will come calling, meaning the $1.4 billion figure actually carries an estimated $868 million value if taken as a lump-sum payout. Winners also have the option of receiving their prize over the course of 30 years.

Nonetheless, someone will win – eventually. Lottery officials said three-quarters of the possible combinations were sold ahead of Saturday night’s drawing and expected 80 percent or more of combinations to be in circulation ahead of the Jan. 13 drawing. If there is again no winner, the excitement – and ticket sales – will only continue to grow, along with the grand prize.

Aside from contemplating the enormous odds, the lottery fervor affords each of us an unusual chance for self-reflection. While reading or watching news reports in recent days, who hasn’t taken at least a moment to contemplate how they would use such an enormous fortune?

Paying off debt, buying a new home or car, providing for family members and friends – these are surely the most common responses. Philanthropy, too, quickly comes to mind – we want to think of ourselves as caring and generous, after all, particularly if we are so fortunate as to win the lottery.

For many, traveling the globe comes to mind. Others may covet a private island or secluded residence in which to escape the world.

Going deeper into the daydream can bring into focus the things we truly want and aspire to, the things we truly value and hope to accomplish. Some may seem outlandish or trivial – owning a sports team, for example. Others transcend the financial considerations, like bettering ourselves or making a positive difference in the lives of others.

The merits of the lottery may be debatable, but it is, without a doubt, fun to dream. Maybe it can even provide us with some unexpected insight into ourselves.

And if a Rhode Islander is lucky enough to take home the record prize, perhaps they’d consider donating a big chunk of their winnings to help fix our crumbling bridges and roads. That’s something for our elected leaders to dream on.

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