Note: A bit long, maybe boring personal post, non technical. So feel free to skip it if you want, no drama.
I am a lucky guy
I was born and raised in a family who did the best they could to give me a better life than they had. They succeeded with it. So yes, I am lucky and you are also if you are reading this. If you have any doubt check some poverty facts.
Maybe it’s a Spanish cultural thing, lately it’s been a really recurrent phrase they are telling me, seems I am an extremely lucky guy.
But now I will tell you something; There’s and I will say almost not any luck involved on any of this things:
No lucky
- I travel/have holidays on weird dates. I actually work most bank holidays and travel in cheaper dates. No luck, planification and hard work.
- I have hobbies, go to the beach often, yes we like the beach and that’s why we live next to it. Like to watch tv shows, read, do sports…No luck, just planification and scheduling.
- I speak and write terrible English, I am actually a really slow language learner. Lot of practice and went to school few times to improve. Also I am not ashame to make mistakes (used to be).
- I always had work, few times chosen were to work and not bad paid. Well my friend, it’s called passion about your job. I have studied, and I don’t mean only at school/university etc. I read about the things that I feel passion about, even if I am terrible at them, become better, more competitive, because I like it!
- I have money saved. Not much but I try to save, mostly to travel ;). I don’t have a mortgage, I do not buy things I can not pay. I want something? I save the money and when I have it I buy it. I want to travel? I save money 1 year upfront. I do not wear expensive clothes, I don’t have an iPhone, expensive car or anything like that, I go by bike to work. Is up to you to spend your money in whatever you want, but don’t you ever dare to tell me I am lucky because I spend my money (not the banks) in my/our passions.
- I have studies. Yes there was a bit of luck here, my family provided all my studies until I was 21, always working while studying since 18. After that I paid 2 masters and quite many courses from my pocket as investments and saving money. Some of them wasted money BTW xD
- Successful business. Well, not that much but pays out bills finally! I have dedicated huge amount of non retributed work for my company/me, with the hope of some success. So now luckily hard works pays off.
- I have lot of free time. Actually I don’t we all have 24 hours. I do not have kids maybe that brings to you more free time. But for me the point is about schedule. I schedule almost anything I even have schedule for unexpected stuff xD. I do not procrastinate much, and I do not sleep more than the 7 hours that my body wants + a 20 minutes power nap after lunch. Also I chose many time my life/free time over money good job. I am more happy, aren’t you?
- Work from home. I work from home whenever I want. Currently I work in the office in the mornings till 2pm approx and keep on working from home. I like it this way so I can leave home for a while and to have 2 different environments depending the tasks I am doing. Also I eat at home 4 out of 5 days week, I save a lot of money and love to cook my food. This was one of my personal conditions to have my company, even earning a lot less, was absolutely worth it.
If you think about it, it’s most of the things about priorities in life, playing PS4 or reading a nice book? going party or watching some documentaries? Sounds boring? sure you can do both of them.
Next time someone says you are lucky, just ignore them, do not battle. Smile to them and politely reply: YES! I am a really lucky guy!, I see you are happy for me. Thanks!
Do you want to be more lucky?
Try this
- Write down a list with things you want to have or do more often.
- Put them in order of preference.
- Set a date to achieve them, try to be realistic, unrealistic deadlines will kill your dream.
- Work hard to get them, nothing is free in life.
Be selfish!
Only you and really only you is who needs to stand up to do those things that you like/want. Search for your happiness and your passion. Learn to say NO to things you don’t want to do.
Annex: Some lucky things actually happened to me:
Got Lucky
- I have family and friends that even when I am selfish, they understand me and they are happy for me because I am doing what makes me happy. Those who are not happy for me can go and suck it!
- I met my wife at work, she was doing an internship in Barcelona, she’s from the Netherlands. What are the odds?
- Meet awesome people with different cultures/religions from everywhere!
- Once I went to play bingo with my wife, won 2 bingos and a line. Never returned, never play lottery or similar
- I had a scooter accident. Guy passed a light in red and speeding, scooter was a wreckage and my clothes almost ripped off. I went to class anyway, I had an exam. Later went to hospital. Only a small toe fissure and some conclusions. Thats luck.
- I have not any bad illness, just minor issues like anyone else, in my case alopecia, coeliac, and knee caps degeneration. But trust me it’s nothing.
- Got twice stuck in a boat in the middle of the ocean, luckily after few hours they fixed the engine, without light in the boat food and strong current you don’t want that xD
- And probably many other times I can not remember now!