Editorials / Opinions

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Everyone wants good luck. Who would object to that all desirable lucky break? Unfortunately, too many people wait passively for luck to find them. They are hopeful their ship will come in. In their mind is the prospect that at some point their luck has to change.

Luck is much more than winning the lottery or hitting the big score at a casino. Of course, people win jackpots, but they are few and far between. For every big winner there are millions more who lose money. The odds of winning the typical state lottery are 18 million to one. The odds of getting hit by lightning are approximately 3 million to 1. So, you have a much better chance of getting hit by lightning than winning a lottery.

Looking at luck in these terms is rather discouraging. Yet, to lots of people, this is their perception of luck. No wonder they get disheartened by the notion that luck seems to happen only to other people.

Luck regularly occurs when attitude and preparation meet opportunity. It doesn't matter how often opportunity knocks at your door if you don't recognize it, don't believe it, or are not ready to take advantage of it. People who have the most luck are those who are proactive participants in their lives.

Gambling aside, lucky people aren't just lucky. Lucky people share similar character traits. They have a very positive attitude, believe good things will happen, are always on the lookout for opportunity, are hard workers, always look for, and find, solutions, and tend to be happy.

Successful people are often thought of as being lucky. However, since successful people only get noticed once they have succeeded, most people aren't aware of all the hard work and preparation that had to take place first.

Lucky people are ready, willing, and able to adjust their thinking as needed. They don't get stuck in a mental rut. What others may see as adversity, lucky people view as opportunity. A surprising number of products that are an integral part of daily life were discovered by accident. They are perfect examples of what happens when attitude and preparation meet opportunity.

All of the following were accidental discoveries: the popsicle, Velcro, superglue, post it notes, scotch guard, safety glass, cellophane, vulcanized rubber, penicillin, Teflon, and microwaves. You have to wonder how many potential breakthroughs might have been missed because of bad attitudes or a lack of preparation.

As these discoveries illustrate, whether luck is good or bad depends on one's outlook. Something that may initially appear to be misfortune may actually be a gift. So, if you walk around telling yourself you never have any good luck, you won't. Instead, change your perspective to recognize that things often happen for a reason. The challenge is to discover what that reason is.

Here is how you can improve your luck. Decide what your goals are. Believe that you will attract all that you need and want. Understand that you are surrounded by opportunity. Recognize that there is a solution for every problem. Be willing to alter your perspective in order to discover hidden opportunities. Always keep learning. Acquire as much knowledge as possible about how to attain your goals. Take action. Adjust your course as needed.

Regardless of where you are now, you can turn your luck around. Luck is not something that happens to you. It's something you create.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. © 2025 Bryan Golden

A little over one year ago I sent an email (see bottom of this message) to you regarding the brown, dirty water being delivered to Lanesboro Borough without notice or warning.

In a year nothing has changed.

I had dirty water in August. I went the Lanesboro Borough council meeting last month with a sample of it and photos. I wanted the borough to contact PA American Water and/or PADEP. The borough is now seeking input from residents on its web page. I'm aware of no other action taken yet.

On Saturday (Sept. 20, 2025) I once again had brown water because the Susquehanna Fire Department responded to a call about 6AM. They must have used a fire hydrant.

Once again I'll suggest to anyone interested to check out my Facebook post below. Take a look at the water in my bathroom sink. Would you use that to brush your teeth, rinse your mouth or wash your face? Think about it. If you visit my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ed.arzouian/) you will find a video of the water coming out of the tap and filling the sink.

If you look above the sink in the Facebook photo you will see a jar with a sample of the water. If somebody wants to analyze it let me know.

This has been going for years. I have been sending complaints for at least three years or so. What is it going to take to fix this? When a natural gas company was accused of indirectly polluting a few wells in Dimmock, PA we heard about it for years. In Lanesboro (and probably Susquehanna) we have a water company delivering brown water directly out its pipes. There is no doubt whatsoever about that, yet we hear nothing. Do we need a class action suit? Will PA American Water give us all full house water filters? Will PA Department of Environmental Protection ever fine PA American Water?

Sincerely,

Ed Arzouian, Lanesboro, PA

"What will the neighbors think?" "What will our friends think?" "What will the relatives think?" "What will my coworkers think?" We all are conditioned to be concerned about the opinions of others. As a result, before we make a decision we are affected by the reaction of others.

Everyone has opinions and will give them when asked. Additionally, many people will give you their thoughts without being invited to do so. Even strangers may share their ideas if they have a chance.

There is a tendency to avoid making decisions you feel will be met with disapproval. Without realizing it, you subconsciously suppress goals you believe will be ridiculed. This results in striving for approval rather than happiness. Even if you feel relieved when people agree with what you are doing, there will often be an underlying dissatisfaction if you have repressed your own aspirations.

Although it's normal to desire approval, it causes us to be concerned about what other people think about us. No one enjoys being criticized. However, looking for acceptance comes with a price. You will adjust your life to conform to the expectations of others, rather than following your own path.

There is an important exception where the opinion of someone else actually matters. When you are speaking with a person who is where you want to be, their suggestions can contain valuable information that will help you avoid mistakes.

Conversely, advice from those without legitimate expertise is usually wrong. If you listen to erroneous opinions, it is virtually guaranteed you will have problems. You will then become disheartened by the results.

How many people ask your opinion before they make a decision? Probably very few. Since other people are not concerned about your opinions, why should you be concerned about theirs?

One opinion that does matter is yours. It's not important that other people agree with what you tell them, what's important is that you don't believe what they tell you. People have many different motives for giving you their opinions.

The opinions offered by others often tend to be negative. It may even seem as if those closest to you; family, spouse, significant other, or children, can be the most critical. When you have dreams, people tend to get jealous. If you succeed then they fear being left behind. This is a major reason why they try to discourage you.

They could be well meaning but just don't understand your motivation. They may feel your goals are too risky. Perhaps they just want you to stay with something that is familiar rather than venturing into the unknown.

The important point to remember is that other people's opinions are based on their perspective, not yours. It really doesn't matter why their opinion is what it is. Sometimes the most opinionated people are those who are the least qualified to offer them.

You don't have to change someone else's opinion. It is not essential for them to agree with you.  Besides, you probably won't be able to change their mind anyway. What's important is for you to believe in your own ideas.

You don't have to share your ideas with those who are not supportive. You are not obligated to justify your decisions. You do have to understand and be comfortable with your objectives and reasoning.

So, it really is irrelevant what your neighbors, friends, relatives, coworkers, or even strangers think. It doesn't matter if you are criticized or ridiculed. You are responsible for your life. In order to obtain what you want, follow your thoughts. By listening to others, you will get what they want.

Sincerely,

Bryan Golden

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. Email Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. © 2025 Bryan Golden