We just spent ten dollars for the privilege of imagining

Every time I’m presented with a new opportunity, I like to spend a few hours fantasizing about how it could change my life for the better.

It’s a wonderful mood booster. Whether it’s a creative project, business venture, or some other personal pursuit, I allow my mind to extrapolate into a matrix of real world outcomes.

I fantasize about how this single inflection point might alter the trajectory of my journey forever. Oftentimes I do this while walking my dog in the park, practicing yoga, or jogging. The movement, endorphins and sweat help fuel the fancy.

I remember years ago when the powerball lottery was a billion dollars. My coworker and I organized a small group of people from our office to go out and buy tickets. Then we ate lunch together, and spent that hour talking about what we would do with our winnings.

One guy was going to move back home and restore his family farm. Another coworker planned to travel the world for a year. My boss said he was going to quit our agency and start his own company. I said I was going to buy an old church and turn it into a concert venue.

Definitely one of the better lunches of the year. Everyone was relaxed and in a great mood. Our team bonded in a way we never had before. And there wasn’t a single complaint about the weather or the price of the food.

On the walk back to the office, I laughed with my coworker and said, do you realize what just happened? We didn’t buy lottery tickets. We just spent ten dollars for the privilege of imagining. The reward from the ticket buying experience was the joy derived from imagining the possibilities, not the actual lottery win. Despite the odds being one in three hundred million, we were all winners that day.

The process of exploration was valuable in its own right. We participated in this activity with a high emotional return, with minimal investment of time, energy and money.

Ten dollars. I’ve spent a lot more on a lot less.