“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” – Thomas Jefferson
Whenever my husband and I are on vacation, I look around at my surroundings, then I say to him, “we’re lucky”. But what does it exactly mean to be lucky? What is luck? In this particular circumstance, I attribute our “luck” to hard work. My husband and I work hard at our jobs and save our money so that we can enjoy travelling. Some even say that I was lucky to have been hired straight out of teacher’s college. Once again, I don’t see it as luck, but working my butt off in university, and being at the right place at the right time. Saying I’m lucky doesn’t give me much credit. So, does luck exist? I’m not too sure. In my experiences, what people see as “lucky” is just the result of hard work, perseverance, and determination; it always has a cause. In terms of gambling and winning money, once again there’s a cause – taking a chance. I don’t think luck is as spontaneous an occurrence as others may believe.
There’s a video of actress Angelina Jolie receiving a humanitarian award where she says that she is lucky, for there could be another person somewhere is the world better looking and more talented than her, but she is the one who is famous. Her case is convincing, but is it really luck or the fact she has famous parents who worked hard to get to stardom? What about me? I could say that I’m also lucky because I live in a free country and I never had to worry about food or shelter, but I think that is thanks to my parents and grandparents. Though I may be skeptical of luck, I do wonder about when bad or “unlucky” things happen to good people. In the end, I think we make our own luck, whether it be by taking a chance or making the most of what we are given.
And speaking of luck, check out the latest issue of my favourite magazine, New Philosopher. Every issue is not only visually beautiful, but full of interesting essays and ideas that force you to think about yourself and the world around you. I guess I am feeling “lucky” as I’m featured in the current issue’s “Living Philosophy” section! See where you can get your copy in Canada here.
Do you believe in luck? Be sure to comment below!
Reading this as I take the train back to school! I like your perspective about luck being more dispositional rather than situational, to describe it in terms of social psychology. I think I agree as well that luck can’t happen if we don’t create circumstances for it to work its magic.
I’m not going to paas the test if I don’t study for it, I’m not going to meet the right person if I don’t put myself out there, I’m not going to get a position of any kind if I don’t apply for it. Rather, if I study hard I might just guess that tough question correctly; if I talk to that girl she might just give me a chance; if I put an effort into the resume/interview I might just get the job.
It’s easy to blame bad luck when something goes wrong, but maybe we should reflect and see if we did everything we could to create the best situation for that luck to manifest.
That’s my two cents – keep up the great work 🙂