The Day I realized I won the Lottery.
Today I had a surprising interaction at my hospital job. An elderly gentleman stated to me as I walked by, “did you win the lottery?” My natural responses was “not today, maybe tomorrow.” Once I returned to my office it began to dawn on me. In a way, I had won the lottery. I live in relative privilege and safety. While I have my share of complaints and challenges, I am privileged to live in a time where I, arguably, have a better life than 99.9% of humans to ever walk the earth.
Reflecting on Privilege and Safety in Today’s World
When most people hear the phrase “winning the lottery,” they picture a stroke of luck that brings a windfall of money, endless possibilities, and a life of ease. But there’s another kind of lottery, one that many of us have won without even realizing it: the lottery of being born in a time and place of relative privilege and safety.
This perspective isn't meant to deny or diminish life’s challenges. In fact, therapy often involves helping people face their struggles and heal from pain. But there’s something powerful about pausing to reflect on the hidden gifts we’ve received—the circumstances beyond our control that shape our lives in profound ways. As a therapist who works with clients navigating complex experiences, I see how acknowledging these aspects of privilege can be both grounding and liberating.
A Certain Time in History
Consider the time we live in. Advances in medical science, mental health awareness, and social justice have transformed how we experience life. For example, if you are reading this post, it means you likely have access to a level of technology that was unimaginable just a few decades ago. It means you live in a time when mental health is becoming a more normalized and less stigmatized topic—a time when seeking help is viewed as a strength rather than a weakness.
For those of us in therapeutic fields, this shift is monumental. We can offer trauma-informed care, work with evidence-based practices, and understand attachment and perinatal mental health through research-backed frameworks. These advances not only benefit those of us offering therapy but also the people seeking it. There’s a wealth of resources, online communities, and support systems available today that simply didn’t exist in previous generations.
But beyond the professional world, living in this time offers other comforts: access to vaccines, clean water, and education. Many of us have never had to live through world wars or plagues of the magnitude our ancestors endured. The fact that we can even sit back and reflect on privilege is a sign that we have some degree of freedom from constant survival-based living.
The Place We Call Home
Equally important is the place we’ve been born into or now call home. Safety, political stability, and access to resources vary greatly across the globe. If you have access to clean water, sufficient food, a safe home, and the ability to access healthcare, you are living a reality that many still fight for daily.
Geographical privilege matters. It’s not just about what country you live in, but also the city, the neighborhood, and even the family you were born into. For many of us, this has meant access to quality education, the ability to find work, and a community that values personal growth and well-being. While systemic inequalities persist, the opportunities available in certain parts of the world can make a significant difference in one’s ability to thrive.
The Privilege of Safety
Safety is an invisible privilege we often take for granted until it’s threatened. Physical safety—being able to walk down the street without fear, sleep soundly at night, and trust that your basic needs will be met—is something not everyone enjoys. Emotional safety is another layer: the ability to express oneself, be vulnerable, and trust that others will respond with care rather than harm.
As a therapist, I witness how a lack of safety, whether physical or emotional, can have long-lasting impacts on a person’s mental health. The privilege of safety allows people to explore who they are, take risks, and grow without constant fear. For those who didn’t have that safety early in life, therapy can be a space where they start to build it for themselves.
The Power of Acknowledgment
Acknowledging privilege isn’t about guilt; it’s about gratitude and awareness. It’s about recognizing that while we may have faced individual struggles, we have also benefited from broader circumstances that give us a certain level of stability and possibility. This acknowledgment can inspire us to act with empathy, knowing that not everyone has won the same lottery we have.
In therapy, gratitude practices can help clients shift their perspectives. While we don’t ignore pain or bypass trauma, noticing the aspects of life that are going well can create a sense of balance. This isn’t toxic positivity—it’s a grounding practice. Recognizing privilege can also deepen one’s sense of purpose: If I’ve been given this foundation, how can I use it to contribute to the well-being of others?
Moving Forward with Humility
Winning this lottery doesn’t mean life is perfect. It doesn’t mean we don’t have struggles, pain, or work to do. But it does mean we have certain advantages that can help us navigate those struggles. Reflecting on this can foster humility, compassion, and a desire to create a more equitable world.
Whether you are navigating perinatal mental health challenges, healing from trauma, or working to strengthen your sense of self, it’s worth pausing to acknowledge the aspects of your life that support your growth. This might be the safety of a home, the support of a friend, or the privilege of living in a time when seeking therapy is a courageous and supported choice.
So, while I may not have a winning lottery ticket in the traditional sense, I do feel as though I’ve won something invaluable. And in acknowledging that, I find both gratitude and responsibility—gratitude for the life I have, and responsibility to help others in their own journeys toward healing and wholeness.
