Feelin' Lucky?

"Luck is what happens when Preparation meets Opportunity" - Seneca

When it comes to luck, this is my personal outlook... If life has me down, it is very hard to sit around feeling sorry for myself... I have to believe that all the things I do everyday are in preparation for my next big opportunity... If there are things in life that I want {currently a child} I have to believe that if I don't have one now, or soon, that it must be for a reason... Maybe I need more life lessons or time to mature - but I certainly don't feel unlucky or that other people are more lucky than myself...

When I was a senior in high school I had loads of people telling me how "lucky" I was to have gotten a partial scholarship to a school across the country... And yet, it may have been good fortune, but the school doesn't just hand over money... I worked hard through school, volunteered, participated, etc all in preparation for whatever opportunity would cross my path... yes a lot of things lined up to make it happen, but if I hadn't been working hard I wouldn't have gotten far...

And when college was over and the job market was in the toilet... I was SO LUCKY to have gotten a job... not only one that paid decently, but that I actually enjoy doing everyday... Again - Preparation meeting opportunity...

Recently Andrew and I purchased our first home... it took a lot of research and saving every extra dollar to make it happen... but it was what we wanted so we began preparing... When a realtor came cold calling at our apartment door and subsequently sent us an informational postcard advertising that the mortgage rates we at an all time low (which we *knew* since we had been doing so much research), we realized that it was possible for us to begin seriously looking. In November we found *the* house... it was adorable... in a great location, and at a decent price... So we put an offer in and then made the 12 hour journey West to visit family for Thanksgiving... While we were there we got awful news... not only were the owners not going to accept our offer, they wanted us to pay ALL the closing costs and full price... We were bummed... almost so much so that I didn't want to even look at another house...

Well, or realtor convinced us to get back in the game and just *try* then next 5 houses.... and guess what? We found the one we are currently living in now! And for the same price we were able to get a 2 car garage, 2 fireplaces, twice the kitchen space, insane crown molding and tons of typical fixer-upper projects already completed for us... {okay... knock on wood - because I do believe in Jinxes}

I feel lucky every day... but at the same time, I know that I play a huge roll in the successes in my life.


I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and "Earthies Wants You to Feel Lucky" blogging program, making me eligible to win a pair of Earthies shoes and American Express Gift Cards. For more information on how you can participate, click here.