Tuesday, November 14, 2023

14 - The Lucky Ones

The Lucky Ones

Some of us are born with gifts. Perhaps our parents had money. Maybe we have good eyesight or dazzling teeth. There's a woman down the street who was once richer than a bank. She inherited her fortune from a great-grandparent who accidentally invented the little plastic tabs we use to seal loaves of bread. She lived in a splendid mansion and kept her money in a glass box on the lawn for everyone to see, and she would lecture us from her porch whenever we said hello. "If you work harder, maybe one day you'll be like me." We felt lousy when we passed her house and soon we avoided it altogether. She did not understand that she was lucky. One day a bolt of lightning shattered her glass box and set her piles of money on fire, and none of her neighbors helped her extinguish the flames. Some people said it was bad luck, but we're not so sure.

Do not confuse good luck with good character. Be aware of selfishness and consider your challenges with compassion. Our greatest fortune is the virtue of our actions and the depth of our relationships.

No comments: