I have occasionally pondered why some people seem luckier than others, whether luck is something you create or something you're given, and whether I am lucky.
Born to alcoholic parents and dragged up in slums: Unlucky, but it instilled in me the determination to work hard and better my situation.
Being afflicted with enormous ears that stuck out at right angles from my head: Unlucky, but the bullying I endured because of it made me bulletproof. It’s almost impossible to trigger me.
Managing to manoeuvre my way through life doing exactly as I please without ever being arrested: Lucky! Live free or die trying.
Making and losing several fortunes: Unlucky? Not so much. More a matter of stupidity and bad judgement.
Buying 5 Bitcoin at $1000 and losing them in the Mt. Gox debacle: Unlucky? Perhaps, but bad judgement meant it was years before I dipped my toe back into crypto.
When I was a kid, I believed it was all about karma, but no matter how good I was, misfortune seemed to follow me. Experience soon taught me that the meek and the good are shit upon from a height while those who are willing to stand on others will always reach the top.
The truth is I don’t believe much in luck. Of course, some events in life are purely random, like winning the lottery or being born into advantageous situations, but for the most part, I think what is perceived as luck is a mixture of good judgement, hard work, and the willingness to take a chance. Fortune favours the bold, and if you’re not in, you can’t win! I’ve always been a chance taker and a hard worker. If only I’d had better judgement, I cudda been a contender.
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Posted in response to @galenkp's Weekend Experiences prompt
asking 'Do you believe in luck or do you believe hard work and preparation creates "luck"?
The images are my own
If there was luck, I would have won the lotto by now. Dammit.
Hahaha, You'd have to enter first! When the lotto was introduced in Ireland in 1988 I bought a ticket for the first one, I think everybody probably did and I won 500 pounds. I never bought another ticket.
Wow!!! That isluck. Every now and then the guy at our local supermarket talks me into buying into a syndicate. He calls it a 'blessing syndicate'. He's Indian, which I only say because you have to imagine his thick accent and spiel as he gets me to throw away money on bad math. Last time I won $2.49. I'm down about 9 bucks.
Hahaha, Indian? More like a cowboy I'd say!:)
I beleive hard work, dedication, and patience pay off. You seem very dedicated to your own way and learning from experiences. 😊💗
I'm far more dedicated to drinking coffee and eating chocolate cake:)
YOU HAD FIVE BITCOINS?! Were you able to recover any of it?
I'm reading David Copperfield. You remind me very much of him, as you shared a similar early life, one of terrible deprivation, cruelty, and "fortunes" gained and lost. The book is thought to be autobiographical. Since Dickens left quite a legacy, I'd say you are destined to leave such a mark, too. You have on me!
You're very kind. 😊
It's taken 10 years but I recovered 1.2 last month. Happy days!
Funny you should mention David Copperfield, my father often quoted from it. "Barkis Is Willin' " he'd say on occasions when I'd attempt to negotiate detente between himself and my mother.
It was a favourite of mine growing up and there's much wisdom in it that I've tried to apply in my own life.
Fabulous then!!! You did pretty well then, considering.
How odd that your father knew the book well, yet treated his own children just as badly. Maybe he thought abuse turns out to have been good parenting? He read Dickens? Your parents were very much Dickensian characters. And you have some of those qualities too. You're much like Betsy Trotwood obsessively chasing donkeys off her property. Not that you chase donkeys, but she was an odd but very good person, much as I imagine you.
"Barkis is willin'." Your father was like Barkis, who was very stingy with his money and his words? Barkis married the very kind and loving Peggoty, nothing like your mother as far as I know.
My father was very well-read, the family was always in the secondhand book business, and he was fond of quoting from the classics. He was a generous man who'd give anyone your last penny:) And no, my mother was nothing like dear Peggoty.
Although it pains me, I disagree with you :) Luck. Luck. Luck.
One event fixed the issue forever, in my mind.
My mother had twins. The first child, my next to oldest brother, had a smooth delivery. The second did not. Something about forceps and oxygen deprivation. Coming out second was not 'lucky'. That second twin spent his life in a crib as a paraplegic. He couldn't talk, or chew, or swallow easily. I was certain that he recognized us, but that was it.
It wasn't lucky that you were born to alcoholic parents. It wasn't lucky that my brother was disabled. That's life. The part that isn't controlled by luck is what we do about it.
It does pain me to disagree with you, but there it is :)
Disagree with me? But, but .. what about my line about random events and being born into advantageous situations? Please, you can't disagree with me. I'm going to have to rewrite the whole thing:)
You're right:
I focused on the other part:
Maybe I disagree with the "for the most part" bit. 😇 I saw too much too early to accept that. Ready for another?
My oldest brother was stricken with rheumatic fever when he was very young. We don't know when it started, but when he was eight he was given the last rites and doctors refused to treat him. He was taken out of that hospital and transferred to a heart center. There they used experimental therapies on him. He spent a year in the hospital and the rest of his adolescence convalescing. That man grew up to be a father, a grandfather and a wealthy businessman. So, in his case, we're both right. He lost his childhood and suffered much, but that didn't stop him. As an adult, he made his own luck.
Ok, no more...please. I've come right around to your way of thinking:)
But seriously, your poor mother. It's incredible how she coped.
My step-brother was removed from the home when he was around 12, put in a mental hospital and given shock treatment, as recalcitrant children were in those days. He spent his entire adult life as my dependent until thankfully, he got his old age pension in September. I must say, fair play to your brother!
😦
No wonder I feel I know you
To know me is to love me!:)
That happens to be absolutely true 🌷
A very old proverb is famous if you are born in a poor family then it is not your fault but if you die poor then it is your fault it is also a fact that luck plays an important role in life. But we can definitely change it by working hard.
Your words are strong and clear, and I agree that luck is made, worked, sought, and it is not a matter of a bird shit falling on your head and all the luck in the world will fall at your feet.
I was impressed by this:
Una realidad que golpea muchas veces, pero un ejemplo terrible sobre la actitud de algunas personas...
Excelente post...
Funny you should mention bird shit. About a year ago I was out walking when a crows nest fell out of a tree right down on top of me, covering me from head to toe with shit. I was about a mile from home. I know what it's like to be shit upon:)
Strange that you're not an extremely lucky guy with such a crowshit on top of you...😬😅
Sorry, it's just a bad joke.
Have a great week.
hahaha, a bad joke is better then no joke at all:)
I wish you too a fine week.
It's never to late to be brave. In life there are only lessons, and opportunities can still come knocking....or at least that's what I believe
I've often thought that life is a series obstacles to be overcome, like a video game. I've never been much good at games:)
Thanks for the visit Empress.
#hive #posh
I would say 90% of life is hard work, 10% is luck, if you don't put effort and learn from mistakes you go back at the same point, however getting hit by a car because the driver is watching the phone and not the street is just bad luck
Yes indeed, some things seem entirely random. Or are they? Perhaps we're in a world where everything is predetermined. A friend of mine was killed a few months ago by a driver on his phone. A split second and she was gone. If she'd just stopped to check her handbag, or tie her shoelace. It's so difficult to get your head around.
I have seen some months ago that there's a theory where everything is already written and predetermined... Video here
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You seem a lot like me, pragmatic and willing to act, and back yourself, and I think that's what translates into "luck" when people see what's achieved. It not necessarily luck though, just effort, diligence, consistency, flexibility, dedication and more.
I wrote this while waiting for someone for 6 hours yesterday in A&E, only to arrive home at 9pm to find the internet down. Bad luck! I had to laugh considering the subject matter. ! But wait, at about 11.45 service resumed and I managed to post. What good luck!
I do agree though. For the most part we make our own luck.
The internet coming back was fortunate, and luck; your good post was also fortunate, but by design not luck. Thanks for being involved.
To quote fieryfootprints, 'Thank you very much."
Yes, he likes saying that, every week, no more no less.
Somehow it always makes me laugh.
Yeah, that's why I always respond with exactly the same thing, seems appropriate.