Doesn't make sense to me

I am nearly 4cm dilated as of this past Tuesday, and 90% thinned/effaced. However, I have yet to feel a single contraction. As far as I can tell, I'm not having any, even practice ones. Am I the only one that finds that strange that you can progress like that without contracting? I'm being induced on Monday, but I'm really really hoping I'll get lucky and go into labor before then!