Oprah says, "Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." Oprah has never been wrong about anything except that sketchy South African school administrator debacle. Her definition of luck is one I like. I don't think I believe in traditional luck & I definitely don't believe in fate. This seems to be a running theme, me not believing in anything.
It annoys me when people say they're unlucky. Take some personal responsibility for your life! Crappy things happen to you, I get it, but they happen to your co-worker and your roommate and even to me, yes, the one person whose life you imagined to be blissfully flawless. The tiny things you call unlucky I call coincidence or, more likely, poor decision making. Missed the train? Ya should have planned your trip better! Ruined a piece of clothing? Stop being a slob (personal goal #1). Disastrous in relationships? Choose people who have jobs instead of patterns of drug abuse. When you are lazy and blame some higher force for things that don't go well, then you better be thanking that same power for all the good things that happen to you. Your A on your final was definitely because your professor luckily chose the blatantly obvious questions, not because you studied. Luckily you were born with a deep passion for exercising and an allergy to carbs - that's why you are in such good shape!
Ugh. I feel like such a Republican saying things like "If you just work hard, you'll be successful!" "Take responsibility for your life!" Trust that this is more upsetting to me than it is to you. It was hard enough to start wearing my elephant necklace in public (I love elephants, ask me about them anytime). But what I'm talking about here is strictly your white whines. There is a difference between luck and fortune. I am fortunate enough to have a lot of opportunities that millions of people don't have. I fully believe in the matrices of oppression (lest you forget about my women & gender studies major) but I'm guessing that anyone who is leisurely reading this blog on their laptop while sipping on a $4 drink is on a relatively level playing field with me.
So even though I can't control everything (if I could, I'd have more tamable hair, grow a few inches taller, and be related to some NBA season ticket holder), I can prepare. I have prepared myself to go to law school, taking advantage of key opportunities, and I will punch you if you say my acceptances were lucky. Thinking about the wretched LSAT still makes me nervously chew my hair (personal goal #2). Next I shall prepare myself for the day an exec from Glamour stumbles upon my blog and offers me a monthly column. That will be preparation -- dedication to my hilariously entertaining yet deeply meaningful blog -- meeting opportunity.
Don't even get me started on fate. Fate as a concept is just ridiculous. Whatever I do, things are still gonna end up a certain way? Uh no thanks. This was meant to be?!?! That's a creepy idea, and plus, why should I work for anything then? In the JC explanation of life, it's all about timing. Sometimes things happen at the right time and sometimes they don't. If they don't, you move on and work to make something else happen. You are the agent of change, the quarterback of your team, the captain of your ship. You are so moved by these metaphors.
To make it more concrete: say I want to go on a trip. Now, where I want to go more than anywhere else is Greece, and I want to go this summer. But you know what, that's not gonna happen. None of this "if it's meant to be, I'll end up there." That's vague and unrealistic. None of this, "I don't have any money so I guess it just isn't in the cards for me." That's just plain depressing. Here's what will happen: I am going to wait until I have a job that pays more than a nickel at a time, save up, buy the ticket, book some cheap hostels, and fly there. I will be in Greece and have a rollicking good time. That, my friends, is my kind of fate.
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