Luck

How lucky are you? How far does the concept of luck extend in your life? For instance, is it just about winning Lotto, or does it include being lucky to be born who, when and where you are? Are positive people more lucky than negative people, or are lucky people more positive than unlucky people?

There's potentially a whole lot of value judgement in the answers to those questions so please answer with care for the feelings of others.

I personally believe it's necessary to be careful about saying that people who are "good" get lucky, because often people who are "good" also have some pretty unpleasant things happen in their lives. And there are some evil rotters who get away with all sorts of dreadful acts and they probably consider that luck too.

Many say "the harder I work, the luckier I get" which is probably true. But there are millions of people who work harder than many of us who never get lucky enough to feel secure in their lives, right down to shelter, food and personal safety. So hard work doesn't necessarily bring good luck; in fact I think if hard work does bring you more luck, you probably had a good deal of luck on your side in the first place! Luck in being born with a mind and body which works, luck in the opportunities you were able to capitalise upon, and the like.

Somewhere in this there's a significant tie to how you see your life, your opportunities, your luck. Bits of someone else's life which look hellish to you can be seen by them as couched in luck - that it wasn't worse, that they survived it as well as they did, that it taught them things that have enabled them to live more fully than they think they otherwise might have.

I am lucky. I've also survived an awful lot of crap which couldn't be seen as lucky. But it didn't end up stopping me and here I am now with resources, both material and personal, living in a time and place which suits me almost to perfection. And I win prizes.

Great post Isla.!

Absolutely agree...people who say "luck has nothing to do with it" drive me mad. People who think that they earn a lot because they work hard miss an important point...they're working hard to make money. Other people work hard to help others or to make a difference.

I am amazed at how lucky I am. I have my health, a wonderful marriage, some of the nicest animals who ever lived, a lovely house, stunning views, enough money for my simple needs, a great website, work I enjoy and some very very lovely friends. And....wine exists in the world....

I've had bad things happen in my life too but I don't think my good luck is because I deserve it any more than I thought I deserved my bad luck.

I'd feel even luckier if it rained...[]

Loved your post Isla, words of wisdom.
I agree Kate Luck has nothing to do with it. I am a believer in what you give out you get back to.

smilie;153082 wrote: ... I am a believer in what you give out you get back too.

But that probably has as much to do with your own personal perceptions as reality. For instance, a very paranoid individual I know suspects that he will always be diddled by anyone he trusts and so whenever anything happens to confirm that view, that's the bit he remembers and uses to shore up his belief. He even recently thought that The Staff and I might be suspect, which was farcical and insulting, considering he is someone for whom we have been doing a great deal. If you live with positivity and "put that out", you are more likely to notice it when it comes back to you, even though you may receive only a modicum more than someone who lives more neutrally in the world.

As Edna Mode said in the Incredibles - Luck favours the prepared.

I'm not sure I believe in luck, but I do believe in Fate and I also strongly believe that your expectations and your reality are linked.

My very wise mother taught me to believe in fate - her advice when making a purchasing decision is that if there is some doubt, go away and think about it then if you decide you really want it and its still there when you come back you're meant to have it. If its gone then you weren't meant to have it (so no point stressing over it).

We had two instances where fate interveined in the purchase of this property - first we tried to buy a house just down the road on a large residential section (hadn't really thought about a LSB at that stage). They buyer withdrew the property from sale. Then we decided we wanted a LSB and found this place but were unsure whether we wanted to build. We dismissed it, went away for an Easter holiday, had a chat about it, changed our minds, came back - it was still on the market.

I once saw a quote (wish I could find it again) that said something like if you expect only the best out of life then that's what you'll get. Conversly you could say that if you expect nothing then that's what you'll get! I believe that this also has a link to your sense of self worth - if you believe that you're worthy of the best and expect it then you'll probably get it. This doesn't mean you can sit back and hope that everything falls into your lap (that would be luck []) but rather expecting the best means you also expect the best from yourself in working towards making your dreams a reality.

"luck or lucky" to me means winning lotto or powerball.

"Fortunate" to me means a positive occurance that was timely within the circumstances of when it happened.

I think One has to be comfortable in their own (emotional) pair of shoes to find external happiness and "comfort" regardless of the material comforts around them.

One can have many material comforts and still not be happy.

I do believe what goes around, comes around.

I also believe if you conduct yourself to the best of your abilities in whatever circumstance, then regardless of outcome you will feel a sense of peace knowing you have done what you could. There is a lot to be said for that feeling (experience).

I will think a bit more on this and come back. Probably with a glass of wine in hand later in the day!

I dont believe in luck But if I did I would sayIm lucky to be on the planet with chocolate

I believe in God and his Blessings
Cheers

Saw a great billboard the other day:

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.

Says it all really as far as those annoying folk who say 'oooohhh you are so lucky!' when in actual fact you have worked hard (prepared) and the only 'luck' bit is that you are in the right place at the right time for the opportunity to be presented to you. And if you hadn't done that hard work/preparation, the opportunity would have been no use to you!

I am lucky as far as things tend to turn out for the best for me, even if I didn't think that was the case at the time .

What an amazing thread this is.

I don't believe in luck.
I've had people say to me, oh, you're so lucky... things they talk about are bought on from hard work, planning and lots of cunning. Brains.

Fortune and luck are closely entwined.
I'm a journalist and I see and read every day of the grossest, pathetic, evil things that people do to each other. Don't ever get me started on this because I'll end up wearing a nice white jacket that does up at the back...
I firmly believe, if you're a decent person and care about others luck and fortune will come to you in one way or another.
Luck could be.. being able to have children, and those children are healthy. Or, meeting your soul mate, or... and think about this.... having to work for a living (unlucky), but working in a job that you would do for free coz you love it anyway (very lucky).

Everyone that's reading this is lucky... because we have our patch of dirt and we have something other people strive for. We are also unlucky (coz it won't bloody rain).

Giddyup;153143 wrote: ...We are also unlucky (coz it won't bloody rain).

See? It's rained here all summer, just whenever we've needed it.

Isla.... where the hell are you? Excuse my ignorance - I'm a Cantabrian
Sniff. I woke up this morning, went to work about 5.45am and the driveway (2ks) was WET!
The whole length!

Giddyup;153161 wrote: Isla.... where the hell are you? Excuse my ignorance - I'm a Cantabrian.

Possibly the only place in the country where we've grown grass all summer - the Far North. [8D]