Gambling on Maybe

There is a garage attendant downstairs where I live in New York City.  His name is Stan and we chat a few times a week about life and Maybe. When my book was complete and I sent it out to publishers, I gave Stan a copy.

He called me the next day yelling with great excitement:  “Allison I read your book!  Later I only had a few dollars in my pocket, and not even enough in the bank to buy gas for my car.  I thought to myself ‘Maybe’ and then I bought a lottery ticket. You would not believe it – I won 25 dollars and I put gas in my tank!  This is the first time in my life I ever won anything.”  Stan’s story gave me pause, but I was still happy that he had such a positive experience using Maybe.

A few weeks later I got another call from Stan.  He won Lotto again, this time 400 dollars.  Now, I began to worry that Maybe had turned him into a gambler! Yes, winning Lotto is a possibility in the land of Maybe, but this is not what I had intended when I gave him the Book. I hoped Stan would stay open to Maybe and make some changes in his life, but not end up in Gamblers Anonymous!

I became concerned about Stan, and when I saw him a few days later I asked him what he learned from his experience with Maybe.   He responded, “Allison, are you worried that I have become a gambler? Don’t worry! The book and my experience with Maybe did not teach me to gamble, it taught me that life changes. I think about that moment when I needed to fill my gas tank, and Maybe helped me fill it up.  I opened up to life and life opened up to me. Now I hold Maybe with me everyday and I feel more is possible in my life even if I can’t see it in that moment.”

Just like Stan, as you experience the power of Maybe again and again, it will free you to explore the unknown with all its hope for a brighter future.  You can bet on it!

Ah, Maybe.