Odds

I absolutely detested math as a kid. The thought of going to geometry no matter what cute boy would sit next to me or what friend I could catch up with could not match my disdain for it. My stepfather, who at the time of my adolescence just seemed comparable to a jail warden, made me do EVERY single problem from a 400 page Math textbook that had just math problems in it. I think I contemplated picking up a drug habit just to give my parents something other than math to focus on. Alas, deep down I couldn't commit to that plan so I was stuck learning math.

It was miserable until I got to the odds and percentages portion of the lessons. It made sense to me that something's are just a matter of chance. The odds and percentages are just an indication of likely an outcome is, but probability cannot give you certainty.

Even the Super Bowl last night was a great example of this. The odds for who could win kept changing as the players made different moves. When the Giants made that touchdown a minute left, I heard the announcers and blogosphere clamoring for the head of Eli Manning. In the end, the odds were stacked against Tom Brady, and he didn't win....but he could have. Talk about a perfect pass that someone just didn't catch. A minute was indeed enough time for him to win the game, but they just didn't. He went for it and the next time it might go his way. I just hope he isn't playing one of my teams when he does.

If there is anything being a lady of leisure has taught me, its that it is good to know what the odds are. You should know the chances of getting that job or if taking a calculated risk with your finances. It is helpful to play the odds. The thing is, we can't depend on them. Sometimes someone misses a touchdown or scores a safety in the first quarter. Sometimes life just has other plans for you.
I recently discovered this in my professional life. I had pneumonia and missed out on a lot of work opportunities. Money from the sale of my short film was running out and I was pretty sure rent was going to be a problem this month. I hadn't counted on being so sick. No one was calling me back for a job and the web series I wrote was pushing back production for a few weeks. I woke up feeling pretty crummy, took Sabrina to the park and sent a Hail Mary email about a job.
What do you know, someone caught my pass. Not only did I book the job, I also got unexpected phone calls that day. It was feb 1st. Would I live blog at the academy awards? (yeah let me think about that! ), would I take a meeting with an agent, could I make myself available to book a show freelance, could I send a sponsor another deck for the philanthropy I work with (shameless plug- www.hollywoodrush.org). Money also appeared from an unexpected source in a refund I wasn't expecting for a few weeks. It was amazing and also just enough to tide me over. Nothing more, nothing less. Enough that I can keep writing another month and hoping something will happen. Because the odds are not in my favor. Kind of makes me feel like ms. Evergreen in the Hunger Games...without all the killing and reality show stuff.
I say this to say, even if the odds are not in your favor, if you throw enough against the wall, something is gonna stick.