Do you believe in luck? Are you lucky?

Ronni

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
I don't, at least not in the way I think most people do, that sort of random, completely by chance serendipitous positive happening, and sometimes even highly improbable and yet it happens.

My most favorite definition of luck is "when preparation meets opportunity" reduces that slippery and totally uncontrollable element of chance by a great degree.

I think we tend to make our own "luck" much the same way as we make our own happiness. We prepare as much as we can, so that when the opportunity arises we're prepared to take advantage of it.

What about you? Do you believe in luck? Are you a lucky person?
 

No, I’m not lucky. Some people seem to be luckier than me but maybe they are better prepared..
Looking back, My luck, as I see it, is rather negative
 
I have twin sons. One has always been extraordinarily lucky, the other has been moderately unlucky. Life just broke that way for them. For instance, a few years ago, Twin A was having dinner with his (then) GF's family. An uncle who traveled extensively for business was going to Japan for a few days. He invited my son and his GF to come for the weekend. Uncle was paying for hotel, had points for first class flights, etc. All son and GF had to pick were incidentals and meals they didn't share with him - meals with him were at Michelin restaurants and he picked up the tab.

While he was gone, Twin B's tailgate was stolen from his pickup truck while it was parked in his driveway. When he told us about the theft, he said, "He gets a free trip to Japan and I get my tailgate stolen. Sounds about right..."

Neither has had a happier life, better relationships, etc. Things just come faster and through easier pathways for A than B, but they both get there.

As for myself, I came into being as a healthy, moderately attractive Caucasion in an upper middle class family during the US during the post-war baby boom. Female, so no personal Vietnam draft worries. As they say, I was born on second base with a fair lead toward third - and I never, ever kid myself that I hit a stand-up double from the batter's box.

Just considering the accident of the circumstances of my birth is testimony to how lucky I've been.
 
Ronni said:
I think we tend to make our own "luck" much the same way as we make our own happiness. We prepare as much as we can, so that when the opportunity arises we're prepared to take advantage of it. What about you? Do you believe in luck? Are you a lucky person?
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I agree. I try to imagine what could go wrong, and try to prepare for it ahead of time. Looking back, any "bad luck" I've had can usually be traced to a poor decision I made.
 
StarSong said:
I have twin sons. One has always been extraordinarily lucky, the other has been moderately unlucky. Life just broke that way for them. For instance, a few years ago, Twin A was having dinner with his (then) GF's family. An uncle who traveled extensively for business was going to Japan for a few days. He invited my son and his GF to come for the weekend. Uncle was paying for hotel, had points for first class flights, etc. All son and GF had to pick were incidentals and meals they didn't share with him - meals with him were at Michelin restaurants and he picked up the tab.

While he was gone, Twin B's tailgate was stolen from his pickup truck while it was parked in his driveway. When he told us about the theft, he said, "He gets a free trip to Japan and I get my tailgate stolen. Sounds about right..."

Neither has had a happier life, better relationships, etc. Things just come faster and through easier pathways for A than B, but they both get there.

As for myself, I came into being as a healthy, moderately attractive Caucasion in an upper middle class family during the US during the post-war baby boom. Female, so no personal Vietnam draft worries. As they say, I was born on second base with a fair lead toward third - and I never, ever kid myself that I hit a stand-up double from the batter's box.

Just considering the accident of the circumstances of my birth is testimony to how lucky I've been.
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White male, born 1952 into a reasonably affluent, reasonably happy US family. #333 in the draft. Went to college at a time when State U. cost $700 per semester. So, yes, I believe in luck. And that makes me believe in a duty to help the less lucky.

I also believe in 1) brains and 2) hard work, but while I had some of 1) I was not inclined to much of 2). As somebody said about Pete Rose, "hustle IS talent."
 
I agree that you make your own luck, for the most part. Unlucky things happen to everyone, but that is to offer you a lesson to learn.
There do seem to be families and groups of people who associate together, who have an unfair amount of bad luck thrown their way.
Some of this may be the people surrounding you and their characters, that might invite trouble.
 
Good Luck and Bad Luck are largely random events and situations that are unpredictable and have no sense of fairness.
What we make of good or bad luck is another matter entirely. This is an area where I have far more questions than answers.

But, I do believe that on-balance I have had good luck in life.
 
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JimBob1952 said:
White male, born 1952 into a reasonably affluent, reasonably happy US family. #333 in the draft. Went to college at a time when State U. cost $700 per semester. So, yes, I believe in luck. And that makes me believe in a duty to help the less lucky.

I also believe in 1) brains and 2) hard work, but while I had some of 1) I was not inclined to much of 2). As somebody said about Pete Rose, "hustle IS talent."
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Pretty much my story.

I always thought I was very lucky. Thanks to my Grandfather, my sister and I were born into a very prosperous family. The home that we lived in as children would probably be considered a mansion by today's standards. It was an old English style Tudor with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and three fireplaces. Included was a huge study, where my Dad hid if he wanted some left-alone time. I will have to ask my sister for some pictures. When my home burnt down, I lost so many great things and memories. Oh, I paid around $1200 a year to go to Kent State University in Ohio. $21.00 per credit hour, if I remember correctly.

But, that's all in the past. After my life began and for the next 73 years, I have had some good luck and and some bad luck, but no matter what, I'm not like the guy that used to say, "If it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all."

 
oldman said:
Pretty much my story.

I always thought I was very lucky. Thanks to my Grandfather, my sister and I were born into a very prosperous family. The home that we lived in as children would probably be considered a mansion by today's standards. It was an old English style Tudor with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and three fireplaces. Included was a huge study, where my Dad hid if he wanted some left-alone time. I will have to ask my sister for some pictures. When my home burnt down, I lost so many great things and memories. Oh, I paid around $1200 a year to go to Kent State University in Ohio. $21.00 per credit hour, if I remember correctly.

But, that's all in the past. After my life began and for the next 73 years, I have had some good luck and and some bad luck, but no matter what, I'm not like the guy that used to say, "If it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all."

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Oh my word, it's been FOREVER since I have seen that little Hee-Haw routine, but does it ever bring back memories!
 
I don't view it as luck so much as I do being fortunate, and just like playing cards, I see it as nothing more than being dealt a good-hand. Not luck, not anything, just the way life rolls.

When I look at myself for instance, I'm in my mid 50's, have no underlying health issues, am fit and able, and have retained a ton of my youthfulness, but in my view those attributes aren't tied to luck, but rather, it's just the hand I was dealt.
 
Aunt Marg said:
I don't view it as luck so much as I do being fortunate, and just like playing cards, I see it as nothing more than being dealt a good-hand. Not luck, not anything, just the way life rolls.

When I look at myself for instance, I'm in my mid 50's, have no underlying health issues, am fit and able, and have retained a ton of my youthfulness, but in my view those attributes aren't tied to luck, but rather, it's just the hand I was dealt.
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I like the way you look at it, AM.
 
I call it luck when I catch the glass that's about to spill, or I have enough peanut butter left in the jar for my sandwich or a good win on a slot machine.
Major things like picking the right hubby, managing to stay healthy during times like this and having to great kids was meant to be. Not luck.
 
That's a big subject...Of course I have my husband and my 2 kids with their 2 kids....my younger brother (we are 6 years apart) and his wife and
his kids....I would say that is lucky.....We weren't lucky all the time....Some things come up that you can't control....My husband at 68 had oSpen
Heart Surgery....survived...Till he had Cancer a couple of years ago....We persevered....Lucky, maybe....He has a lot of ailments....
He is not a complainer ….. So we live and let live.....
 
Yes, I guess I do. Growing up, I always thought my brother was lucky. He won not one, but two bicycles, among other things. His fiancé won a diamond pendant before they were married. He won a weekend trip. I never won a thing, not even the booby prize. But I've been lucky in many other ways. And hard work goes a long way, farther that dumb luck will take you.
 
Aunt Marg said:
I don't view it as luck so much as I do being fortunate, and just like playing cards, I see it as nothing more than being dealt a good-hand. Not luck, not anything, just the way life rolls.

When I look at myself for instance, I'm in my mid 50's, have no underlying health issues, am fit and able, and have retained a ton of my youthfulness, but in my view those attributes aren't tied to luck, but rather, it's just the hand I was dealt.
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It seems you are still young.....I didn't have health issues in my 50's...Now at 75, I may have some ailments...
But I can walk everyday....Maybe not much running, unless the kids want to race me....My husband tell's me to be careful....
I clean my own house....2 of them....I also will never go out in something that is inappropriate …… I still like clothes
and dress in jeans....Very nice jeans....Not the one's with the holes....Which are more expensive…… (To each his own)
 
CarolfromTX said:
Yes, I guess I do. Growing up, I always thought my brother was lucky. He won not one, but two bicycles, among other things. His fiancé won a diamond pendant before they were married. He won a weekend trip. I never won a thing, not even the booby prize. But I've been lucky in many other ways. And hard work goes a long way, farther that dumb luck will take you.
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We had a pilot who won a few million dollars on a lottery and that turned into a nightmare. First, everyone that knew him and his sudden fortune kept chiding or nagging him to retire and "enjoy your good luck." Or, "Enjoy your money." This went on for months. It really started to eat away at him because he didn't want to retire or quit, but to get away from it, he felt compelled to do so. Just as he retires, his wife files for divorce and takes half of his money and pension. That's when good luck turns into bad luck.
 
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