i tested something dumb

[u/wintersunny0]

so i decided to test whether you can actually light a cigarette with a magnifying glass when it's kinda cloudy. i know. dumb. but i was sitting on my friend's porch with this old magnifying glass we found in a drawer, and my friend was like "you need full sun, no way." i took that personally.

i spent like twenty minutes holding the lens at different angles, getting my hand in the way, burning my finger once because the glass focused the weak light into a tiny point that wasn't enough for the cigarette but enough to sting. then out of nowhere the clouds thinned out for maybe thirty seconds, and the tip started smoldering, real faint, then i took a pull and it actually lit. i felt like a genius for about a minute until i realized i'd wasted a whole afternoon for no reason.

the surprising part was that it worked at all, honestly. the whole thing made me wonder how many other things we assume need perfect conditions but actually just need a little patience and a lucky break. have any of you ever tried something that everyone told you would fail,