A lot of people don't believe in luck. Most just chalk it up to a superstitious frivolity. While I don't believe in keeping a horseshoe upright or carry the dismembered limb of a helpless animal to stroke in times of distress, I do believe in the general concept of luck. I honestly believe there are some people in this world that things just work out for, and there are some people that will constantly draw the short straw. Fortunately for me, I happen to be of the former. Maybe it's my personality, maybe it's my Irish heritage; of the reason I am uncertain. But things just seem to have a way of working out. It was only when I realized things were going well that I had an epiphany. Maybe things work out because I want them to. My new philosophy is that we can all make our own luck. If we want something and we work hard enough, we can have it. Most people consider it good fortune because they have been given something good. I consider it the positive outcome of a job well done. So is it ever really luck? Or are we just being given what we deserve? A four leaf clover is indeed rare, but not if we could breed our own special strain of them. I guess the bottom line is that we can all have what we want if we're willing to put in the time. If I can do it, you can do it too. Breed your own four leaf clovers. Make your own luck.

A Word on Happiness

Happiness comes in many forms. For me this week, it came in many shapes and under many different monikers. The smooth and painless passing of a loved one was a great blessing. It of course had me pondering the implications of my actions, and still has me hoping that I might be able to leave this life with no regrets and zero burnt bridges. I also had the opportunity to get in touch with my roots and really appreciate my heritage. Being able to reconnect with my immediate and extended family has really aided me in my quest for happiness. I feel like the icy fingers of hopelessness have relinquished their grip on me. I'm finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Do I still have a long and arduous journey ahead? Of course. But now i'm prepared for the ride. Another great blessing has been the kind ears of a friend. My grandiose and existentialist views are probably not always a sweet tune to hear, but the ears are always open and have helped me find a great new attitude. I stated earlier this evening that not only is the glass half full, but I drank the first half already and enjoyed every drop. My attempts to remain optimistic have drawn a new conclusion; optimism breeds happiness. I'm happy now. Is it permanent? Probably not. But I will enjoy it while it lasts and do my best to maintain it. Things are good.

Let It Be

Every time I sit down to compose, my fingers poised over the keys ready to tap out some more difficult-to-decipher sentences, I feel like I'm writing a very self-serving monologue. For those of us who have seen the TV show "Scrubs," I feel like Dr. John Dorian; talking to masses I can't see in a narcissistic attempt to make myself feel better. I guess the long road we all travel has as many zig-zags as Lombard Street. We may not always be headed in exactly the direction we thought, but we must press on. We can't let every cheap shot and infidelity make us press on the brakes and slow down our cosmic momentum. I've realized that whenever things don't go my way or people act out in a manner I deem less than socially acceptable, I have the tendency to let it ruin my day. I don't know exactly how much traction I have with my audience, but I would like to advise you to try my new way of thinking. It's paradigm shifting and has helped me start every day with a better attitude. Maintain a high level of control over your moods, and attempt to stay positive in all circumstances. Putting out good energy draws good energy, and who doesn't want to be surrounded by positivity, right? Today I survived two deeply seated acts of betrayal, and have already decided that moving on with a smile plastered across my face is the best plan of action. It's not that I'm sweeping it under the rug, I'm just choosing to let it go. John Lennon spoke it the most concisely, "Let it be." I'm choosing to let it be.