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Amy Elizabeth

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In Defence of Luck

May 16, 2016 Amy Elizabeth
lucky
lucky

[Photo by Irene Dávila]

It seems to me that people are quick to reject the idea that they are lucky - seeing is as a bit of an insult. I understand why - there is the insinuation that it was all a twist of fate that you have ended up where you have, rather than because of any merit or struggle or talent. I don't see it that way - in part because I am incredibly lucky. 

That is not to say that I have not and do not work hard. I give my all at my job, I work on side projects like this blog, I studied hard when I had the opportunity (and am still quick to pick up a book). I'm certainly not the hardest worker in the world; parents, carers, people with multiple jobs - the list goes on of people who are giving far more than I am. But I am smart, I work hard and I am nice to people, all of which have contributed to the good job, nice home and happy social life that I currently enjoy. 

But I am lucky. So, so lucky. And I'm going to bet that you are, too, in at least some small ways. I am lucky to have been born to loving parents who had the means to support me and who prized education and encouraged creativity. I am lucky to have a high IQ, which I've been allowed to use and develop at good schools and at a good University. I am lucky to have had the luxury of free time to pursue the passions that have lead me to my career (this blog, more than anything else, has definitely got me where I am today). I am lucky that a stranger read this blog and decided to email me, and I am lucky to have fallen in love with him - and I am lucky, too, that he also had the means to support me when I first moved to Leeds. I am lucky to have spotted a tweet with a job advert that seemed like it was made for me - not once, but twice. I am lucky for so many chance encounters that have lead to friendships and opportunities and joy. 

I am not an exceptional person. I'm actually quite average, I suppose. I'm not saying that you have to have had a lot of luck to get to where I am, because I am sure there are people with a lot less privileges than I have had who have achieved as much, and likely so much more, than me. You can use your smarts and your creativity and your determination and hard work to overcome a lack of luck, and many people do so. But I don't think that it is an insult to say that someone is lucky. Like so many other things, if you are lucky, as I have been, it is what you do with that luck that really matters. It is up to you to seize the opportunities - however frequent or infrequent - that are presented to you. But to deny the existence of luck? Is to deny all the people and circumstances that gave you a helping hand. It's not a weakness to admit that, I don't think. 

In fact, recognising my own luck has made me so much happier. A few years ago I decided that, rather than despairing over all the ways I was hard done by (which were few, I admit), I chose to see and recognise every moment that felt 'lucky'. I guess you would call it serendipity, really. All of those 'fortunate happenstances' that have contributed, in their own small ways, to my wellbeing. Like seeing a tweet with a job advert, just when you're feeling a bit down about your current position. Or even just a friend asking if you want to grab a drink, when what you really need is a glass of wine. Serendipity is everywhere. I don't think that I am lucky because all the best things happen to me (although a lot of lovely things have indeed done so) - but rather because I choose to notice it every time something good happens, and to try to ignore the bad stuff where I can. It's the sister of gratitude, of counting your blessings, I suppose. But I do urge you to try it, to notice the little lucky things that happen every day - when the lights go green just as you're about to pull up, when you get the last cookie in the packet, when you have just enough change for the bus. It starts to feel like you're making your own luck. And what is more lucky than that? 

In Thoughts & Opinions Tags 2016
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Hello!

My name's Amy. 

 I live in Leeds with my husband, Paul, our son, Benjamin, and our cat, Tuna Fey. 

This blog is a little snapshot of my life, just as it is right now. It's a collection of many things; from motherhood and family to recipes, crafts, books and interiors.

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Making a promise to myself that I’ll buy a bunch of daffodils whenever I see them because they make my heart so happy. I know it’s probably a false promise and we have plenty of frost to come, but it really feels like spring in the air and that is some kind of tiny miracle. Sunshine and yellow flowers are the greatest tonic ☀️
#signsofspring #oneperfectthing #caughtflowerhanded #tfispring #livemoremagic #myfloraldays #gardentovase #inspirewithblooms #petalsandprops #dailydoseofcolour #thefloralseasons #alittlebeautyeveryday #embracingtheseasons
BRB, just sobbing over the fact that my baby already looks old enough to get his actual driving license 😭😭😭 #happyselves #pbloggers #momentsofmine #ohheymama #momentsinmotherhood #momentslikethese #letthembelittle #mytinymoments #littlefamiliesofig #writeyouonmyheart #thehappynow #rememberingthesedays #capturingchildhood #kidsforreal
So in love with the colours of the fabrics for my next quilt 😍 It’s a gift for a friend, but I’m very tempted to make my own with just the coloured fabrics... and then redecorate a whole room to match. Seems reasonable, right?  #creativelifehappylife #createeveryday #createeverydamnday #amylizmakes #documentyourdays #hurrayforplay #stayinspired #wearethemakers #doitfortheprocess #makersgonnamake #showyourwork #maketimeforcreativity #dailydoseofcolour #colourmyjoy #ihavethisthingwithcolour #quiltersgonnaquilt #sewhappy
Okay, majorly unrelated caption alert but I *need* to talk about how much I love Sex Education. Major spoiler alerts coming, but seriously, this show is so smart and funny and full of heart and important and I actually might burst with how good it is. I *wept* on more than one occasion, but was particularly moved by Maeve's abortion (because how amazing to see abortion actually depicted in a non-sensationalised way that acknowledges the nuances and reality for women!) and I almost couldn't breathe when Otis and Eric danced together at the prom (because what an amazing display of non-toxic masculinity and friendship and all I want for Ben is for him to be able to hold hands with and support his friends!). God, I already want to rewatch the whole thing. And also dye my hair pink. More, please!

#chattycaptioncommunity #memyselfandportrait #darlingweekend #happyselves #reclaimthehappy #reallifeandstyle #documentyourdays #shared_joy #loveletterto #stayinspired #nothingisordinary
10/100 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne 📚❤️ I had a book hangover from Sally Thorne’s first novel, The Hating Game, and her second didn’t disappoint. I still think The Hating Game is my favourite, but I loved the sassy heroine and the sweet cinnamon roll hero and the fact that they were renovating a house and so much else about this book. More Sally Thorne books forever, please!
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Paul, from the bottom of my feminist heart, I love you. Thanks for ranting more about the patriarchy than I do, and teaching our son that men do the cleaning and the childcare, and for not being weird about the fact that I’m smarter than you 😉
#dailydoseofpaper #illustragram #best_of_illustration #valentinesday #feministvalentine #feministlove #veronicadearly #documentyourdays #seekinspirecreate #hurrayforplay #nothingisordinary

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All content on Amy Elizabeth is copyrighted and was created by me, unless otherwise stated. Any products that have been sent/gifted will be marked clearly with a * and all sponsored posts, advertisements and paid partnerships with brands will be disclosed Some (but not all) of the links on Amy Elizabeth are affiliate links, which allows me to make a small amount of money on items purchased via those links at no extra cost to yourself. 

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