You’re so lucky you to live in the city.
You don’t know how lucky you are, getting to go away this weekend.
I can’t believe how lucky you are, getting to work from home.
I’m sure most times people say these things not because they really believe them (at least I hope not), but rather because it’s one of those things people just say. I don’t believe in luck, good or bad, and I’m tired of people attributing things in my life to luck.
Growing up I was told how lucky I was compared to my younger sister.
I was lucky my dad shared an interest in my interests and therefore paid me more attention versus my sister. Having the same interests to work on and talk about or the fact that my father was a jerk had nothing to do with it.
I was lucky that my high school job placement turned into a job after completing high school. Working hard for free while attending high school and my talent had nothing to do with being hired by the paper as a Layout Artist and subsequent Art Director.
I was lucky to have been accepted into all of the colleges I applied for when pursuing my career in advertising. Achieving high scores in high school, my entrance exams and interviews had nothing to do with receiving the acceptance letters.
I was lucky to have been one of the few in my advertising program to have been hired before my course ended. Evaluating the job market and choosing to follow a media steam (a path many decided not to pursue); my working for free during the day, while finishing my courses and working at night; and my interest to learn and apply the skills needed for the job had nothing to do with signing my first employment contract.
I was lucky to have been able to buy a house early. I was lucky to have gotten pregnant 1, 2, 3 times. I was lucky to be able to work from home. I was lucky to be able to travel. I was lucky to have found my ideal job.
It’s easy to attribute luck to something you don’t have but someone else does. I could say how lucky you are to have a cottage to go to on the weekend or how lucky you are to have a cleaning lady to tidy your house or a nanny to watch your kids. But I’m sure you would agree it has nothing to do with luck. Just like you, I have worked hard to obtain what I have and I continue to work hard to maintain it. I find it sad that people, friends, even family attribute my successes, big or small, to luck versus talent or hard work.
I don’t believe in luck. Good things and bad things happen to people. You make things happen not some unknown force. I’m not saying you have complete control over your life. Your decisions, the decisions of others, the people you meet, the places you visit, all these things contribute to what makes your life interesting and unpredictable. But that’s not the same as luck. I think relying on or blaming luck for what happens in your life is an excuse; an excuse why you didn’t achieve something or why you did (and the person blaming it on luck didn’t).
It takes work to have my luck, hard work.
Small towns, where churches were once the center of everything, are turning into ghost towns. Changes in industry, factories closing, head offices moving, all affect the those towns based around them. In big cities, increased taxes cause businesses to relocate and workers follow.
Family starts claiming parts of the baby as their own: she has the family nose, he looks just like Uncle Boris when he sleeps, her laugh reminds me of Grandpa Pete.
I love Christmas. I love that my kids have time off from school and my husband time off from work (notice how I don’t indicate my time off). I love having the excuse to have a drink and eat rich foods. I love hanging around doing nothing but eating and drinking and watching Christmas movies. I love that the season makes everyone, well most people, a little nicer. I love Christmas for all these reasons.
