To the Editor,

Why can’t I win the lottery? Why am I not paid more for the work I do? Why didn’t things turn our as I planned? Why is life unfair? These are common questions everyone asks at one time or another, but is there an upside when things go wrong? YES! YES! YES!

CONGRATULATIONS! You’re in the most exclusive club in the universe. I’m not talking about the upper 10% income bracket or even the exalted 1%. By your very birth the odds of your presence on Earth is 400 trillion to 1.

You exist! You are a witness to the universe and all that it entails…its beauty, devastation, pain, love, hate, empathy, and thought. That’s pretty impressive. We all know the popular sayings – “No pain, no gain…Count your blessings…Life is a marathon, not a sprint.” All are absolutely true. Life is not always easy, but we all have an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our relationship with humanity, nature and the wonders of the universe. The French philosopher, Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am.” Make sense of your 400 trillion to 1 gift.

Larry Z. Goldberg

Providence