Toto and 4Ds

The annual CNY toto draw is just over. There were 2 winners and as expected, I did not win anything. The odds of winning is so low that I read somewhere that it is easier to spot a UFO than to win at our annual toto. Still, that does not deter the masses, judging from the long lines formed at the outlets to buy hope.

I bought $22 worth, picking some favorite numbers in my usual system-7 slips. As I held on to those pink slips, fantasies of what I will do if I won will always pop into my mind. I will dream of materialistic cravings, gifts to loved ones and doing charitable donations. And every year so far since I started dreaming of winning, the dreams have just stayed dreams.

Some people have such luck at games of chance. I know a few people who seems to be so lucky that they win 4Ds on a regular basis. I am unsure that they win so often cos they buy often, or that they really have such good fortune. There is a Chinese saying that such people have 横财 luck, meaning that they tend to be fortunate to win at these games of chance. Unfortunately or fortunately (I am still unsure myself), I don have such fortune. I hardly win even at company lucky draws. The biggest win I ever had was a toto win a few years ago of about $1000. With my kind of luck, I hardly buy and therefore, the chances of winning becomes even slimmer.

But today’s post is really about a friend’s dad who won the recent toto and yesterday’s 4D. His good fortune got me reflecting about the interesting twists of life. This uncle won a small toto bet, I believe it’s a really small amount <$50 cos he bought “ibet”. After attending his daughter’s wedding on sat, he went to collect his winnings. This uncle hardly buys 4D. But as he was already there, plus his daughter’s happy wedding vibes and he had just bought a new car, he decided to buy the license plate of his new car. The number came out and he won about $110k in 4D winnings, the largest amount he won in his life in a game of chance.

I know the family well enough and so I know this uncle somewhat. He’s the kind of man you wouldn’t believe exist in Singapore. For example, someone may crash into his car’s rear end and it’s totally not his fault, but he will let it be and pay for the damage himself. He gives way to other motorists even when it’s his right of way. He helps his neighbors so often that the neighbor’s kid with special needs calls him grandpa.

In a recent family wake, this uncle paid for the funeral when none of the siblings wanted to pay for it. He also looked after his sister when she had cancer and the other siblings found reasons to be absent. And when the sister passed away and left him money, he shared it with the other siblings even though he had no need to do so.

Most people might call this uncle a silly man for doing many things that had no obvious benefits. He helps without expecting returns, doing what he believes is right even when he does not get support from his family. Just imagine yourself driving into the back end of his car and he comes out, inspects the damage and then tells u that it’s alright and you can go off. Not your everyday Singaporean right?

So when I heard that he won a $110k fortune in 4D, I was envious but also somewhat feeling that life is fair. He placed a single bet of $100 on one number, and Heavens gave him the good fortune. Really, 好人有好报. One good turn deserves another. Maybe this uncle’s good turn is finally here after all the good he had done previously.

I have always preached the Universal Law of Attraction, that by doing good, you will attract good things into your life. When I see the good fortune that this uncle experiences, I have a feeling that this may be what the law means. The uncle has done much good in his life without expecting, and positive things are happening in his life. So maybe the secret to wining toto and 4Ds is just by doing good.

In our competitive Singaporean context, doing nice things may not be second nature to most. Our “kiasu” syndrome often drives us to want to be first, to win at the cost of others. I see it in schools when I was working as an educator. We teach the kids moral values but the system often means that there is only one “first”. Do you know the name of the second astronaut who stepped on the moon? We remember NeilArmstrong but many have never heard of Buzz Aldrin, second man on the moon. So a man like uncle is rare. And in this post today, when he doesn’t even know I am writing about him, I am hoping that his good fortune will be a meaningful lesson to readers of this blog.

Do good without expecting anything in return and good fortune will happen to you.

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I haven’t blogged for a while. Been busy and lazy. Nothing much had changed since my last post last year. On the financial front, the markets have done well but I have not benefited much as I am not vested heavily. Still sitting on a large % of cash but I am alright. My passive income 2018 will suffer but I will definitely survive.

I am seeking employment now. I had attended interviews and am waiting to see what happens. I have only applied for work that interest me. I am guessing that before the end of this year, I will be gainfully employed again. That means the end of my semi-retirement. It will be good for me to contribute to nation building again after my long rest. I am looking forward to new adventures in life.

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I did a Kopi talk a week ago. Even though I was inactive on my blog, people are still reading about my adventures and reaching out to me. During the talk, I was asked why I am sharing freely and without reservations. I answered that this is my way of doing good. I shared my life lessons so that others can learn and do better. In this small way, maybe some day good fortune will smile back on me. In the true sense of doing good, I should not be expecting any returns. But I am human after all. So I will continue to be good, do good and hope 🙂

Meanwhile, I will continue to buy toto and 4Ds occasionally. Huat!