Lucky number 12

For a long time I thought the number 12 was my lucky number. Not that I really believe in luck, or even care about the notion of being ‘lucky’. I’m one of those people that believes you make your own luck, that its a combination of being in the right place at the right time and being open to possibilities that you haven’t thought of yet or weren’t necessarily planning for. More like serendipity then luck really… I guess luck to me is more of a life view then it is an event. I feel lucky often.

I digress. My birthday is on June 12th, because of this I always picked the number 12 for team sports and anything else that requires a number that represents me for a specific period of time. For some reason the number has always made me happy and when it randomly comes up I’m pretty stoked, but looking back the number 12 hasn’t really been lucky for me at all. I don’t remember my 12th year all that fondly and the only other lasting thing that I have involving the number 12 is a tattoo right above my left knee cap. I got it a couple years ago after drinking a couple, probably 12, too many beers. I had no idea what to get, so I just said, “Well, I like the number 12.” So I got that, and it’s a really really shitty tattoo that’s going to be on my leg forever (I love that its there though). One of friends also got the number 12 so we are blood brothers, and my other friend got 7x7, so whatever, we are blood brothers too. Apparently, we were really into numbers that particular night.

Anyways, I realized something today. 12 isn’t my lucky number at all, it’s my favorite number. This realization really struck me. I’ve been unintentionally investing a lot in “calculated luck” and I couldn’t be doing what I am if I hadn’t.

Sharing a couple things that have helped me, maybe they will work for you as well:

Do what you love. In work if you can, in personal life always. (You will feel lucky)

Invest in others without expecting anything in return. (It will pay dividends.)

Money is necessary, but if its the only goal you will never be fufilled. (First world problems… so, give back when you can)

Get lots of tattoos. (personal one, don’t rec this for everyone)