There are many reasons that I love poker. I have put together some thoughts about the game and how it is enhancing my life and molding my character. Every time I play it seems I discover another reason. Here a couple off the top of my head...

1. Poker is all about self-awareness and self-control. You must control your emotions and be able to accurately and honestly identify your character flaws and control them. Just like in life, you have to have a realistic view of your strengths and weaknesses and understand how to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

2. You must control your natural need to get caught up in the details of short term success and instead focus on the big picture. There is very little you can do when you are dealt bad cards. You have to learn to loose a little in the short term and "take your beating like a man".
The profitable poker player will focus on long term success where the "luck" will always even out.

3. It makes me take risks when the odds are in my favor. Very few things in life are 100% guaranteed. I am by default a very conservative person. That helps me avoid big looses, but it keeps me from getting big consistent wins. I have to over come that and break out of my conservative shell. My business ventures, relationships, and faith has all been positively effected by learning to take some risks when I feel like I'm in a good position.

4. Poker funds my vacations! I play at several online sites and use the proceeds to fund vactions for my wife and I. I also use a portion to help out some people in need in my community.

5. I play poker online and have been blessed to do well for a small-med. stakes player, but I also love playing cards with a bunch of guys in my home town for fun at the "micro-stake" level. You learn alot about poeple by watching them play poker.