Luck.
I feel that I am a very lucky person.
When Opossum turned 21, we all went to Las Vegas. Much fun was had by all, and I happened to find a pair of sunglasses that I really liked. Two years later, they disappeared, and I figured they were gone. Last year, Dad found them. Somehow, they'd gotten under the seat in Mom's car, and I hadn't noticed them when I looked. So I once again had sunglasses that I really like.
Last week, when V and I were out and about in SF, I realized I'd left my glasses at the table we'd left about 15 minutes prior. We returned to the bar, and I asked the bartender, who said he'd not only not seen them, but he'd JUST wiped down that table, and they hadn't been there. It was a different bartender than the one we'd been served by, I suppose because of a shift change.
I sighed, and we left the bar again, and checked out the gift shop, and then wandered out. The bartender who HAD served us noticed us was outside, and flagged me down to let me know that he'd found my glasses, and left them with the hostess! How sweet is that?
I feel so lucky, because I had never thought to ask the hostess, and if we hadn't walked out when we did, or the bartender had been a little less conscientious, or if we'd gone out a different door, I wouldn't have gotten my glasses back.
One reason that I bring this up, actually the major reason, is that a lot of people wouldn't think I was lucky at all. After all, I lost them repeatedly, and spent literally years without them because of the loss. It would be very easy to focus on how UNlucky it was to have gone into the bar, and simply gotten the wrong bartender when you asked if your glasses were there.
Luck is entirely perception. Was I lucky because when I tripped and fell, I didn't break my neck, or was I unlucky for tripping in the first place? I think I would count as lucky.
I have to wonder what benefit there is in seeing it the other way. Is there a benefit to giving the negative priority?
Thoughts, anybody?
When Opossum turned 21, we all went to Las Vegas. Much fun was had by all, and I happened to find a pair of sunglasses that I really liked. Two years later, they disappeared, and I figured they were gone. Last year, Dad found them. Somehow, they'd gotten under the seat in Mom's car, and I hadn't noticed them when I looked. So I once again had sunglasses that I really like.
Last week, when V and I were out and about in SF, I realized I'd left my glasses at the table we'd left about 15 minutes prior. We returned to the bar, and I asked the bartender, who said he'd not only not seen them, but he'd JUST wiped down that table, and they hadn't been there. It was a different bartender than the one we'd been served by, I suppose because of a shift change.
I sighed, and we left the bar again, and checked out the gift shop, and then wandered out. The bartender who HAD served us noticed us was outside, and flagged me down to let me know that he'd found my glasses, and left them with the hostess! How sweet is that?
I feel so lucky, because I had never thought to ask the hostess, and if we hadn't walked out when we did, or the bartender had been a little less conscientious, or if we'd gone out a different door, I wouldn't have gotten my glasses back.
One reason that I bring this up, actually the major reason, is that a lot of people wouldn't think I was lucky at all. After all, I lost them repeatedly, and spent literally years without them because of the loss. It would be very easy to focus on how UNlucky it was to have gone into the bar, and simply gotten the wrong bartender when you asked if your glasses were there.
Luck is entirely perception. Was I lucky because when I tripped and fell, I didn't break my neck, or was I unlucky for tripping in the first place? I think I would count as lucky.
I have to wonder what benefit there is in seeing it the other way. Is there a benefit to giving the negative priority?
Thoughts, anybody?