Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Oct 3, 2014 9:21:49 GMT -5
When in your life can you look back and think "I got lucky."
Furthermore, what is your general opinion about the concept of "luck." Some people don't believe in luck, others think it's where preparation meets opportunity, but what do you think?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Oct 3, 2014 9:25:08 GMT -5
I got lucky when I got my current job. I didn't have 99% of the skills they wanted but I had animal experience. They had an immeadiate need for someone with extensive animal experience and I was the first one to walk in the door with it.
Part of it was I took advantage of being an internal candidate, your resume gets automatically passed thru and they at least have to give you a courtesy interview. Also if I wasn't so good at what I do animal wise I never would have been able to sell it.
But it was dumb luck that I walked in the door when I did.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 9:26:16 GMT -5
I like the definition of preparation meets opportunity. I guess I would just want to add ability to it. There are a lot of opportunities I didn't take advantage of and I kick my ass now.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Oct 3, 2014 9:29:44 GMT -5
I like the definition of preparation meets opportunity. I guess I would just want to add ability to it. There are a lot of opportunities I didn't take advantage of and I kick my ass now. Like what?
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Oct 3, 2014 9:30:20 GMT -5
I was lucky I went to my alma mater when I did. I got in with a 3.7 grade point, no volunteering, no extra AP classes. I doubt I'd get in with those grades today. They want to to take as many AP classes as you can, volunteer, etc. Just having good grades and being in after school activities isn't enough.
I was lucky in that I was able to conceive easily, despite my fertility issues. Two of my kids were conceived on the first month of trying. I got lucky that my third was a singleton. I had a 30% shot of twins, give or take. I got lucky that all of my kids are healthy.
I was lucky my husband wanted to get sober.
I don't always subscribe that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Fertility is one of the biggest crap shoots in the world. A child's health is another one.
ETA: I did get lucky with my day job, though I think my luck has run it's course...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 9:34:46 GMT -5
I like the definition of preparation meets opportunity. I guess I would just want to add ability to it. There are a lot of opportunities I didn't take advantage of and I kick my ass now. Like what? Going to university right out of high school, a few jobs I had that had long term potential, good guys that I wasn't in the emotional space to appreciate...
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happyhoix
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Post by happyhoix on Oct 3, 2014 9:45:57 GMT -5
I got lucky that the tornado that flattened my neighbor's house down to the foundation only removed the upstairs and screened porch from my house, because we were home and would have been killed. Our neighbor was lucky because they were NOT home and they would have been killed if they were.
To me luck is a random thing and has nothing to do with how good or bad you are, or how hard your try, or how educated you are. It's the random act of being in the right place at the right time, or avoiding the wrong places at the right time.
Things that fell into your lap because you worked hard, or stepped forward at the right time to carpe dieum - those are opportunities you prepared for and seized, when they came your way. It might have been random that the door opened when it did, but you were the one that had the ability and desire to walk through the door.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Oct 3, 2014 10:07:34 GMT -5
I got lucky in that I knew what i wanted to do when I was done with high school. I knew I wanted to be an engineer. The only thing one year of school convinced me was I wanted to be a different type of engineer, but no wasted time at college. I'm lucky in that I like what i do (most of the time). I got lucky with my kids. They are healthy and happy. I got lucky with my husband.
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nutty
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Post by nutty on Oct 3, 2014 10:11:44 GMT -5
I don't actually think I am lucky though my friends think differently. I think that it is all pre destined.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Oct 3, 2014 10:22:34 GMT -5
It was lucky that I randomly checked my email one day and found out that I had gotten a post-graduate fellowship (2 months before). I had less than a week to find qualifying employment before it expired, so I was VERY lucky that my now-boss read my cover letter and decided to bring me in for an interview. September 9 marked 5 years since my first day here.
If I'd waited another week to check my email, I have no idea where I'd be right now.
ETA - I was also lucky that DH's X had walked out on him about 2 months before I moved back home for the summer before law school. We had been dancing around for the past 7 years since we were never single at the same time. A few months in either direction and we'd both probably be married to other people...
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cael
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Post by cael on Oct 3, 2014 10:25:59 GMT -5
I got extremely lucky getting my current job when I did. I had a friend bring this job to my attention, came in & discussed with the boss and thought a lot about it, then applied and interviewed after almost not doing it I was so nervous. They offered me the job... and not 3 months later, it was announced at my old job (where I'd stayed on part time) that they would be closing and laying everyone off in 3 months.. Everyone assumed I had some insider information, but I didn't. Also got very lucky that we planned our Ghana trip for April, not July or August, because you know, Ebola...
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Oct 3, 2014 10:29:16 GMT -5
I was lucky to be born in the US. That gives me a huge advantage over a majority of the world's population.
I was lucky to be born to parents who valued education and invested in it for their kids.
I was lucky my father (a man from the deep south) saw the value in educating girls.
I was lucky to go to work for two separate people who mentored me in my chosen profession.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 10:34:21 GMT -5
I got lucky in husband. We got pregnant way too early in dating. It could have been a disaster.
Can luck be benefiting from someone else's opportunity meets preparation/effort? I've really been lucky that my father believes in spreading the wealth.
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Anne_in_VA
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Post by Anne_in_VA on Oct 3, 2014 10:44:05 GMT -5
I've been really lucky in getting some jobs, but a lot of it was being in the right place at the right time and networking. My current job came about because I was looking for additional responsibilities and had approached my manager about that so when the previous person left, he asked me to take it on and I did. Then when my company was bought out by a much larger company, I had the experience they needed in my area of expertise. They didn't have anyone with Medicaid experience and that's what they needed so I got the job.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Oct 3, 2014 10:47:03 GMT -5
I was lucky that my eye caught a very teeny ad at the bottom f the ad page of the Boston Globe. I essentially had that job for 30 years.
i was lucky that my infection was susceptible to antibiotics. If I had MRSA, I'd have been screwed.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Oct 3, 2014 11:00:17 GMT -5
luck is a random thing
I'm still waiting.
I guess I don't see things come my way.
I'm the type that needs a 2x4 to the forehead to wake me up.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Oct 3, 2014 15:12:37 GMT -5
When in your life can you look back and think "I got lucky."
Furthermore, what is your general opinion about the concept of "luck." Some people don't believe in luck, others think it's where preparation meets opportunity, but what do you think? How much time do you have? I have been lucky so many times it's crazy. I really should be dead I've had so many near misses esp. as a child. My Guardian Angel(s) must be exhausted! I have always flown by the seat of my pants in most cases and always end up smelling like roses instead of a big ole pile of crap as an adult. And some of the stories here confirm my belief in Divine Intervention. I feel that when there are that many steps/things that have to come together just so it is more than luck. Some examples if you are bored and want to read what happened when I was a kid and how lucky I was: 1. I was 6 years old and we lived in Pax River, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. My 2 older step brothers were in the water playing with a ball and I was floating around in my inner tube. The tide was out and I could still stand on the sand bar about 3 sand bars out. The tide was coming in and grabbed their ball and was towing it out to sea so they grabbed my inner tube because I could still reach the sand bar and not be underwater so they could swim out to the deeper part to get their ball. Next thing I knew I was under water and had to kick off the bottom to get my head above water and yell for help. My mom was deathly afraid of water esp. putting her face in and couldn't really swim but my step sister happened to be there (she was 16) and heard my yells for help. She swam out and got me before I drowned. Had she not been home like usual... 2. My step brother that was 2 years older than me and I hung out a lot. I was 6 and he was 8 living at the same place above. The canal? (can't think of what it was called) that led to the swamp from the bay and it had a bridge over it. We lived on about 200 acres and it was like our own paradise so we would explore and throw rocks at abandoned houses that I guess housed the staff for the big house (I have no idea as we rented there), the barn, etc. We were walking on that canal because it was iced over and kind of skating around on it in our shoes. Oldest step brother was on the bridge throwing rocks at us so we kept going further and further out on the ice where it had weakened. I heard it cracking and sure enough - I fell in. Sweet step brother pulled me out of the freezing water and when I got back on my feet he said "Now don't run! Go slow so you don't fall through again!" I heard the cracking sound and went to run but we both fell in that time. Older dickhead sb ran and left us there! Sweet sb climbed out and helped me out AGAIN and we made it home instead of drowning. I have no idea how he was able to do that. He was so little too! Everybody thought we were twins because we were the same size and we shared the same month for our birthdays. He died not to long ago of colon cancer at 53/54? 3. I was about 10 or 11 and we lived in the Philippine Islands on a hill. Below that hill was the main road from our neighborhood with a very steep road to get to it. My boy friend and I <<swoon - He was such a cutie pie and sweetheart!>> were with some friends who dared me to take the wagon down the hill (dirt side) towards that road. Being the only girl I of course took the dare to show them what wimps they were. Down I went crashing down this hill in this wagon. I stopped before I got to the main road so they felt it was safe as I didn't get sqooshed by a car. They took their turns and we'd push the wagon from behind to get up the speed. Nobody died so I went again. The boys pushed really hard this time and I went flying down the hill. But this time I passed the point where we were able to stop and was heading right for the road. An on coming car was coming right when I was to hit the road. They were screaming for me to stop (umm, how was I to do that?) and right when I was about to get to the road I hit the ditch area just right and stopped dead. Just stopped on a dime abruptly. I could see under the car where I was positioned I was so close. I have tons of things like that where we did stupid stuff and should have been killed. Like when younger brother and I found bullets (an entire box) and thought it would be like the 4th of July when we threw them in a fire. I have no idea how we didn't get hurt with that one. We were such geniuses as kids!
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justme
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Post by justme on Oct 3, 2014 15:21:08 GMT -5
I'm highly disappointed that this thread hasn't devolved down the obvious path yet. Guess Phoenix is lucky with this thread!
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Oct 3, 2014 15:25:41 GMT -5
I'm highly disappointed that this thread hasn't devolved down the obvious path yet. Guess Phoenix is lucky with this thread! I'm disappointed that this thread wasn't about what I thought it was about.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Oct 3, 2014 15:32:12 GMT -5
I am lucky I was born to middle class parents who supported me in my childhood & my college education. I am lucky I was born with a decent IQ so I could pursue a good career.
Everything else that I can think of that I could possibly call luck really goes back to the points above. Like I feel I am lucky to have the job I do, but I think that is due to the above. I feel lucky I can support my 3 kids as a single mom with no help or welfare, but again I think that is due to the points above.
I guess I feel lucky because of where I started because everything else is due to that.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 17:17:47 GMT -5
My definition of Luck is that things turn out well in spite of what silly decisions I made.
I left a job that I hated with a private company and took a government job that paid much less. I turned out that government accounting was my thing, and I moved up very quickly and would never have had the retirement benefits that I have today. I did not pay into social security at that job.
Then I got a bee in my bonnet about something silly after 16 years and took a part-time job with another government entity that I had to pay social security in. It's a good thing I did, because I built up enough for SSDI, which I am currently on.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that everything came out OK after some very dumb decisions. That's luck.
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Oct 3, 2014 17:50:50 GMT -5
I didn't make it back for my senior year of high school and joined the military. I went to boot camp in mid-November and the Vietnam Era GI Bill, with very good educational benefits, expired the first of January (a fact that I only found out about after I was in).
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Oct 3, 2014 17:59:05 GMT -5
Luck to me is mostly opportunity knocking and me opening the door.
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ZaireinHD
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Post by ZaireinHD on Oct 3, 2014 19:38:52 GMT -5
car accident! the very first thing that pops up! I was hit by a big rig truck and pushed into a truck my manager at the time joked that my Honda Accord turned into a accordion
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damnotagain
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Post by damnotagain on Oct 3, 2014 20:05:30 GMT -5
I think I am pretty lucky! Shot at 3x times before I was out of the 8th grade. They Missed subderial hematoma Splenic artery anurism fasciotomy rt calf 4 years in Lebanon USMC mmhmm hasn't killed me
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Oct 3, 2014 20:14:57 GMT -5
1. That I was born in America. I am lucky enough to enjoy relative safety and security through very little effort of my own. I have access to fabulous medical care, education, healthy food to eat, utilities, etc. There are other Americans who are willing to put their own lives on hold and on the line here at home and in foreign countries so that I can sit here and post on an anonymous message board without worrying about fire, home invasions, suicide bombers, religious extremists, or deadly viruses. Just watching the evening news reminds me how lucky and fortunate I am to be an American. 2. I was born in 1959 at the tail end of the Baby Boomer generation. I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted the many social changes the Boomers ahead of me brought about. Essentially, thanks to them, as a young woman, the world and all it offered was my oyster. I was able to play competitive sports, study anything I wanted to in college, live with my future DH without wearing a scarlet A, think for myself, express myself freely, and make choices for myself. Conversations with my own mother during the course of my life about how limited her own options and choices were as a young woman made me realize how lucky and fortunate I was to be a boomer. 3. I had worsening pre-eclampsia when pregnant with ODS. I was on bed rest at home for 5 weeks with daily visits from a nurse. I got confused about the location of an ob appointment (the practice had 2 offices) and had DH drive me to the one at the hospital. It was the wrong location for the appointment, but the absolute right place for me to be that day. After checking my blood pressure several times, the ob at that office rushed me into the adjacent hospital because it was so high. Two days and some steroid shots and magnesium sulfate later, I had an emergency C Section when I started having neurological issues. ODS was born 2 months prematurely, but relatively healthy and I avoided an almost certain stroke because I was lucky enough to make a mistake about the appointment location. Sadly, I was also lucky enough to benefit from the death of another young mother from pre-eclampsia several months prior in the same ob practice at the same hospital. 4. I wasn't home when the tree hit our house. I almost stayed overnight because the traffic on the roads back up to our vacation cottage in Maine was horrible that night. But, at 7:00 p.m., I was lucky enough to simply decide to make a run for it. If I had stayed and slept in my bed that night, I'd be dead. Now, if I could just hit the lottery big...just once...
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