Luck

It is the first day of the Lunar New Year today. One hopes that the year of the Ox will help us all raise ourselves above the fray that was the year of the Rat. According to the few zodiac boards I have read in different locations, it is going to be a good year for me and my other fellow roosters.

But you know what, I didn’t need those boards to know how blessed and fortunate I have been. In fact, of late I have been feeling luckier than ever. A lot of it comes from reassessing my life and the choices I have made.

I used to think I was very unlucky. A lot of it was probably due to needing to pass on little pleasures and luxuries in life as I grew up because poverty. Sad to say, I let this negative and pessimistic outlook stay with me throughout most of my adult life.

In the last few months, I realised that I have not been grateful enough for the luck I have been granted. Even though I grew up poor, I was lucky to have had a lot of folks around me, both family and friends who made it pleasantly memorable. When I needed financial support, I got it. That is not just luck though, but rather the hallmark of a good system. Where I was fortunate, it was in being in the right place and time to access it.

Earlier this week, I went out for dinner with some friends. The occasion was the fortieth birthday celebration for a good friend. He is practically a brother in all but name. As he reminded me that night, he played a pivotal part in securing my ‘O’ Level examinations. He kicked my chair when he noticed me dozing off during one examination. He woke me up more than once. There is a lot more that he has done for me both before and since that year.

I think though, that the biggest and most important favour he did me, was letting me into his life when he was not okay. Because that signalled to me that I could share my vulnerable moments with him. That has been important on many occasions.

And it is not just him. Where I have been luckiest is in having found people who both allow me to lean on them in as much as I allow them to lean on me. Folks who have been more than happy to show support for everything I do. And when I need an intervention, they have answered the call readily.

This was put to the test almost a year ago, and they answered brilliantly. You could say I owe these friends my life. I will always be grateful for that.

Life has continued to throw challenges of all kinds after my epiphany about luck. At times, my faith in various aspects of my life has been shaken. But when bad stuff happens, I no longer put it down to me being unlucky. Sometimes, it is bad luck, but it doesn’t mean I am jinxed. No matter how bad it gets, I know for sure that I will not have to face it alone.

And that’s all the luck I need for now.

Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! May you have an auspicious year full of blessings.