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Opinion

Lucky you

So what do you think? Are you lucky? Yes or no. "Sometimes," you say. Right, that's what most people say. In my own informal research I usually get that answer, "Sometimes," or "It depends." Very few people will say "I am a lucky person," or "I am unlucky." But have you ever thought about what luck is? Or if luck really exists?

Generally people consider themselves lucky when something good happens and unlucky when something bad happens. And if a few "lucky" things happen in a row, then they feel they are on a "winning streak" and their luck is good. And if a few bad things happen, they feel their luck is bad or they are having a period of bad luck.

So my next question is: Can you influence your luck? Some people think so, they carry good-luck charms like a rabbit's foot or a lucky coin, or maybe they wear some lucky garment or wear a lucky color. They believe that they can influence luck. Some people even pray for things to happen, trying to influence the universe or the Power that runs the universe. Is there any way you can make yourself lucky?

My wife and her friends often buy a bunch of lottery tickets. They hope to win big, but what are the chances of winning the lottery? I think it is safe to say "very slim" to "non-existent." But what they buy for their few hundred yen is a dream. For the price of a few cups of coffee you can close your eyes on the subway and dream of never having to go down there again. You can see yourself lounging in the back of your Rolls Royce telling the driver, "Home, James."

So do I believe in luck? No, I don't. I really think things happen in a random fashion and that there is not much we can do to make them happen. As for gambling there are games of skill and games of chance. You can become a good poker player through skill (understanding the odds, remembering cards, studying the psychology of the other players). Gambling is a big business that involves games of chance. I think that if you accept the fact that you are paying for a thrill, then that is good enough. But I don't think the odds will ever be in our favor, and I don't think there is any way we can make do what we want.

So what about people who seem to be lucky? We all know them. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold. Never a misstep and always upward. I think a lot of this is just plain hard work and work that we don't see. We just see them winning, but we don't see them sweating. I think that they learn early how to succeed and just keep repeating the process through trial and error. From the outside we think they are lucky. It is no fun to think of staying focused on a goal year after year through ups and downs and setbacks and persevering till you win.

What is fun is to buy that lottery ticket and dream: "Home, James."

(531 words)

Discussion: Do you think you can influence luck? Would you rather buy lottery tickets than stay focused on a goal?

Shukan ST: Aug. 25, 2006

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Opinion Lucky you By David Parmer So what do you think? Are you lucky? Yes or no. "Sometimes," you say. Right, that's what most people say. In my own informal research I usually get that answer, "Sometimes," or "It depends." Very few people will say "I am a lucky person," or "I am unlucky." But have you ever thought about what luck is? Or if luck really exists? Generally people consider themselves lucky when something good happens and unlucky when something bad happens. And if a few "lucky" things happen in a row, then they feel they are on a "winning streak" and their luck is good. And if a few bad things happen, they feel their luck is bad or they are having a period of bad luck. So my next question is: Can you influence your luck? Some people think so, they carry good-luck charms like a rabbit's foot or a lucky coin, or maybe they wear some lucky garment or wear a lucky color. They believe that they can influence luck. Some people even pray for things to happen, trying to influence the universe or the Power that runs the universe. Is there any way you can make yourself lucky? My wife and her friends often buy a bunch of lottery tickets. They hope to win big, but what are the chances of winning the lottery? I think it is safe to say "very slim" to "non-existent." But what they buy for their few hundred yen is a dream. For the price of a few cups of coffee you can close your eyes on the subway and dream of never having to go down there again. You can see yourself lounging in the back of your Rolls Royce telling the driver, "Home, James." So do I believe in luck? No, I don't. I really think things happen in a random fashion and that there is not much we can do to make them happen. As for gambling there are games of skill and games of chance. You can become a good poker player through skill (understanding the odds, remembering cards, studying the psychology of the other players). Gambling is a big business that involves games of chance. I think that if you accept the fact that you are paying for a thrill, then that is good enough. But I don't think the odds will ever be in our favor, and I don't think there is any way we can make do what we want. So what about people who seem to be lucky? We all know them. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold. Never a misstep and always upward. I think a lot of this is just plain hard work and work that we don't see. We just see them winning, but we don't see them sweating. I think that they learn early how to succeed and just keep repeating the process through trial and error. From the outside we think they are lucky. It is no fun to think of staying focused on a goal year after year through ups and downs and setbacks and persevering till you win. What is fun is to buy that lottery ticket and dream: "Home, James." (531 words) Discussion: Do you think you can influence luck? Would you rather buy lottery tickets than stay focused on a goal? Shukan ST: Aug. 25, 2006 (C) All rights reserved