I heard a radio program about luck the other day. Some people don’t believe in it. They believe that you create your own luck. Then there are others who possibly believe in it a little too much.

I am Chinese, so of course I believe. But being Chinese also means that I’m practical. I won’t sit back and wait for luck to come. I know when I’m on a lucky streak. And I also know that it won’t last.

I believe that quiet listening is required – an awareness of the the ebb and flow of daily life so that you know when and how to act in that moment.

One of the listeners phoned in and said that he wasn’t a lucky man. He said he locked himself out of his house just that day. ‘I can’t count how many times I’ve done that,’ he said. ‘And how many times I’ve locked the keys in my car. I’m just not lucky.’

I laughed. He was obviously confusing luck with being mindful.

I don’t like to say that I’m lucky in case the reverse happens. I’m a little superstitious that way.

So I use the word blessed instead.

I am blessed that I have this beautiful place to go and write in. I am blessed that I live in Australia where I am free to be who I want to be.

The Abbotsford Convent was built between 1901 – 1903. It used to be called Convent of the Good Shepherd. Now days, it provides studios for authors and artists working in the rooms where the sisters used to sleep.

This is the charming view from my little studio overlooking the cloistered courtyard.

I could be in Europe!

 

Here’s a link to a great article on luck by Richard Wiseman titled Be lucky, it’s an easy skill to learn