What’s Luck Got To Do With It

I don’t believe in luck.  Don’t we make our own choices based on the cards we are dealt in life?  These choices are determined by our attitudes, abilities, and character.  At any point we can choose to adopt a positive or negative attitude.  Every time we choose a positive attitude, we build our own integrity.  Every time we choose to do what is right as opposed to what is easy, we build our character.

I was dealt the muscular dystrophy card. This led to a divorce because I chose a partner who could not deal with my diagnosis. This meant that I had to get a job and find a nursery school for my daughter.   And yet a co-worker told me I was lucky to be divorced.   I did not see it that way.   We had worked hard and saved up to buy a house and spent less than what we could afford so that I could be a stay at home mom.   I considered myself lucky to be a stay at home mom until I thought about the choices my ex and I made to make it possible.

When I retired and began receiving disability benefits, someone told me I was lucky.   I knew she did not understand that my disability check was probably half of what her check would be, based on the fact that I have only been physically able to work part time for many years.

A friend of mine and her husband planned and worked so that they could buy a condo in Florida.   Her co-worker told her she was lucky. She did not see it that way and neither did I.

Now when people tell me how lucky I am, I consider the source – often the people are not really happy with their own situation and do not see that they created it themselves with their attitude and their choices.   And every time, without fail, I am content with being me and not them.

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