“You’re so lucky you get to travel!”

As a travel nurse, this phrase is played on repeat from coworkers, friends, family, and even people I have just met. Recently, I have been able to contemplate what exactly “lucky” means. I even googled “luck” at one point and the recommended search box came up with endless options that made me laugh. What is a lucky person? What are signs of good luck? How can I increase my luck?  How can I overcome bad luck?

In my mind, luck looks something like this:img_1778

  • Finding a few dollars on the ground
  • Getting that up front parking spot
  • Opening that pitless avocado (yes it does exist, google it skeptics)
  • A tootsie pop wrapper with an Indian aiming a bow and arrow at a star
  • If you’re incredibly lucky, winning the lottery!

These are things you typically have absolutely no control over.

So when I or my travel nursing career is referred to as being “lucky” I am taken aback because so much about it has nothing to do with luck. The same can be said for those who believe you may become successful simply through luck. On the contrary, there is a great saying that gets the gist of it, “It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.” -Randy Pausch

57755740191__3da0d7e1-4a5b-424a-aabf-e2edf14fb60fA quick look at the handy dandy online dictionary says that lucky means happening by chance or having good luck. It states in the definition literally, BY CHANCE! Sometimes I even take offense to “luck” comments, remembering the countless days and hours I devoted to achieving this result. I do feel as though hard work is essential to achieving what may be categorized as a “lucky life”. However, hard work without a goal or direction is a pointless redundancy – why are we doing what we’re doing? I worked hard for this opportunity and I continue to work hard everyday to make it happen for me. While yes, Kollin and I have “couple goals”, we make it a point to encourage each other to set and achieve personal goals as well. Growth is the key and for those of you who are reading this, I believe if you truly want a particular life and/or lifestyle then you work for it and make changes so that it allows you to reach your goals and grow as a human being. I find that my quest to become more mindful is always aided by focus on my goals and the steps required to achieve. For example, we even went so far as to set small goals to limit our tv time by focusing on going for more walks in the evenings. This led to bigger and bigger goals to eventually move out of state away from all friends and family for an amazing experience. For those of you who will recognize the quote, it is all about “baby steps” – Dr. Leo Marvin!img_1815

To wrap up this stream of consciousness, “Remember, although it may be happening to you, it is happening because of you.” -Grant Cardone. There is no limit to what we can accomplish if we focus on working toward our goals. You can create your own life by making the changes to reach those goals, no matter where you start out – your ideas are your own and it is up to you to chase them. That’s the essence of this life I/you/we can create our own happiness. So if you think that people are just “lucky” when they have an appealing lifestyle, think again. I’m sure they worked hard to get to where they are, and from their perspective they are still working toward a higher goal. Luck is not found, it is made.

“Write your own winning lottery ticket, not by the sudden accumulation of wealth but the gradual reduction to what you decide is essential for your life.” -Chris Guillebeau