"Fortuna Caeca Est".

Fortune Is Blind

The above sentence is carved onto a stone wall in old Roman style letters above a tunnel high in the Austrian Alps. It was suddenly in my view, as my family traveled south one summer when I was a teenager and I glanced at it at the very moment the car entered the tunnel. The sentence immediately peeked my curiosity, thus I scribbled down the words on a piece of paper, to later enter them in my journal. The one where I wrote interesting quotes and book excerpts, in order not to forget them.
It was first many years later that I learned the meaning of the Latin words:  

Fortune Is Blind.

Luck is a funny thing and already the ancient philosophers shared many ideas on how it impacts our lives. I know that I myself have had my share of both the good and the bad, but whether that was a product of luck I am not certain.

My Lucky Charm

When I felt the least fortunate, I recall feeling very lonely in my pain and predicament. I believe loneliness must be one of the most difficult ordeals in the life of humans. In my perception, it comes as a close second to the most devastating predicament one can be subjected to - ailing health, ours or someone we love.
I rather be poor than lonely. I rather be unsuccessful and miserable in any other way imaginable, as long as I am not alone. The idea of prolonged loneliness that I was facing once in my past used to haunt me even though I would choose solitude every time, rather than the company of someone I did not care for.

One of the most appealing aspect of life is that it can surprise us at at any moment, as the dices of our destiny are thrown. In just one year did I not only meet the love of my life, but I also gained the love of his adorable children and his extended family. As if by a stroke of incredible luck I was suddenly granted an honest affection from extraordinary people, dispersing the fears that once used to envelop me.

My Charm Bracelet

Meeting my extended family for the very first time reinforced in me the idea of reincarnation and having lived before. It felt like coming home - in the most literal way possible, like I never felt before. Even though at first glance I am easy going, open and tolerant, there are very few people that I genuinely feel comfortable with. Yet, when I am with my husband and his family, it feels as if I am exactly where I am suppose to be - in fact it feels like it has always been this way, for much longer then a year.
Sadly, I will never get to know the woman that bore the man I love, as she is long gone, but I am fortunate enough to have spend many wonderful moments in the company of my father in law.
The father of my husband is a special man and I can clearly see where my soul-mate gets his manners and admirable traits. He is humble and yet jovial with a life enforcing conduct and an aura of incredible familiarity.

Recently, my father in law send me a lovely birthday card, a greeting filled with words that I will never forget. Yet most of all, it will remain forever in my recollection for the gift that followed the card.
He send me a lucky clover.
A simple, yet rare plant, which he collected on one of his recent morning walks. It was pressed and meticulously taped onto the side of the card, accompanying his inner hopes for my good luck... A priceless and most memorable gift I have received to date.

My Lucky Clover

I have waited a long time and had to endure rough times before I found my share of good luck that has been infusing my life for the past year. At times I wonder what exactly have I done to deserve such good fortune as I know from experiences that nothing good last for ever and bad things happen to good people.

Ultimately though I have always believed that we are the creators of our own luck. It does not come from amulets and charms, but from our beliefs and our conduct, our hopes, our love and our longing. It is the state of our mind and the way we view life.
Good fortune is a product of hard work and endless perseverance and will smile at us as long we believe in it's charm, but never rely on its presence.