Friday the 13th

It appears that I survived another Friday the 13th. It is said that this day is unlucky. I'm not sure if you can attach luck to a specific date. There are a couple of things you may be able to attach luck to. A broken mirror. Well, maybe, I don't know if you get seven years of bad luck but I'm sure you will have to deal with the aftermath of the mirror. Broken glass strewn about and replacement costs definitely rate badly on the good bad scale, as do the potential for injury in the breaking process. Walking under a ladder is another unlucky act. In reality walking under a ladder is more likely to be unsafe than unlucky. Objects could fall on you, not to mention the ladder. It just makes good sense to not walk under a ladder.

I do believe there is an element of luck that effect everyone's life. Gambling especially games of chance are based entirely on luck. Things happen beyond your control that influence your life. Many of these are so remote that significant preparation for their occurrence is futile. However, how you deal with or react to bad luck is a true measure of your character. If you work through bad luck, you will be less effected by it. If you work hard and are prepared for what you are trying to do you reduce the chance you will be unlucky as you will be performing your tasks properly and may be able to overcome bad luck or the luck will not produce a significantly negative effect since you are in a significantly positive position.

Some people seem to think they only have bad luck. We all feel like this from time to time. We all know people who chronically complain about their bad luck. If you feel you are having a lot of bad luck, I suggest you look inward. You are probably not a good as you think or are not willing to accept responsibility for your actions.

It has often been said, "You have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good." There is definitely, some truth to that. If you are good at what you do and are working hard at it, chances are you will reduce the influence of chance. If you have some good luck come your way you will probably be in a position to effect change and may make a difference.

I believe luck exists, at least at the individual level. It is that unknown factor of chance that statistically will even out but in the one of cases can have a significant effect on a person or a small group. You have to live with it. You can tell stories about it. Your day may be changed by it. You will always wonder about it. Don't rely on it. Don't blame things on it.

I will admit, I would rather have good luck than bad luck.

Power Through It

I was watching Sportscentre on TSN where I saw part of a bit. In this bit one of the anchors of the show attended the NHL Combine. As indicated at the link he completed 25 reps of the 150 pound bench press, better than any prospect. Remember these are 18 year old men and still have some physical development to go. I was discussing this with a friend last night as we were watching the hockey game. He asked me what I figure I could do. I wasn't too sure so we decided that when I go for my regular workout today I would put 150 on the bench press and see how it goes.

I did 26 reps.

I may have been able to push out one more but my arms were pretty much done. I normally do 3 sets of 10 reps of 195 pounds 3 times a week.

I have not been having the best luck of late. It seems every time I turn around I get passed over, the result goes the wrong way, or I am ignored. It probably isn't as bad as it seems but you get that feeling some times.

This small achievement may be the indication that things are starting to turn around for me. I hope I am out of this rut. There is even a rumor that the weather is going to pick up and act like summer.

You can't sit back and say the world is against you and just accept it. If you feel you are having bad luck you have to go out and try to change it.

You can mope about for a couple of day. You can say it sucks, because it probably does. You can't just let it be. You have to go out and change it.

I was watching 'The Departed' again a couple of nights ago. I love the monologue at the beginning. It has some teeth to it. the part that I really like is when Jack Nicholson's character says, "I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me."

I like that idea. You can go out and make things happen or you can let things happen. I think I have been letting things happen to much and need to go out and make them happen.

Everyone should look forward and when things don't go there way just power though it.