Do you ever have one of those days when you just feel unlucky: the dog tinkled at the back door, you forgot your umbrella in the pouring rain and you missed your exit because some weiner in the car next to you wouldn’t give you a break? It’s enough to make you drag yourself home at the end of the day and put on your jammies and open up a box of Girl Scout Cookies and binge-watch some Housewives, right? It is an Unlucky day.

I had one of those days last week. At the end of the busy day, I made a quick stop in the grocery store and it started to rain sideways. I had a full cart and the wind blew my hat off and away into the next row of cars. I had to run after it while my cart began to roll away. Back in the car and soaked I was having a real pity party: wet hair, wet clothes and I still had two more engagements before the day would end. I went to a happy hour, for which I was the organizer, and eight out of the 35 women who responded showed up. Eight! But, the night wasn’t over. I had one more stop to make, book club. I was late and I’m sure I was less than the perfect guest. When I got back in the car I was really in a mood: I know you know what I mean. I had about 20 minutes to drive home and I did it in silence: no radio, no phone, just drove.

Look at your Luck with a New Lens

That was the best thing I could have done for myself. I thought about the day. I was feeling so unlucky, like someone was looking down on me and laughing.

I started thinking about the happy hour and about the women who I met that night and how much I enjoyed talking with them. Because it was a small group I got to have more extensive conversations with a couple of them. That was lucky. And at book club, I met a new member and loved the discussion about the book we had just completed (and I had actually read it!) and really enjoyed myself. And, there was chocolate and that was extra lucky!

The moral of this story? I was feeling so sorry for myself. I was cranky and was getting madder at the world by the minute. Poor, poor me, right? But, in that time it took me to get home, I made a 180 degree turn around in my brain, and it changed everything. How lucky am I to have these places to go and people with whom I can spend time? Haven’t there been times when I would have done anything to have somewhere to go? Yes.

Everyone has unlucky days, or months, or years, but there’s a piece that we bring upon ourselves: luck isn’t always luck, right? And, knowing that we can change it is key.

I learned a valuable lesson that night and while I know I won’t be able to turn every pile of poop into rose petals, I can try to improve my “luck”, and that’s half the battle, isn’t it?

So the next time you are feeling out of sorts or grouchy (and I feel that way a lot) take a moment to re-evaluate your mood and I promise you will have more good days than bad: your “luck” will change. I’ve decided to make a point of trying to regulate my inner grouch when I am feeling particularly unlucky and change my attitude, because it really isn’t about luck most of the time. It’s how you live your life that determines much of your “luck.”