Speaking of Luck

We are all subject to sudden changes. Some are welcome. Some, not so much. What we do in the face of change determines how we come through it. Will we let it become a layer of regret and anger? Will we use it as a force to re-shape our life in an unexpected and positive way? I think we build our luck and reputation, our Hamingja (Ham-ing-ya), in the choices we make.

The Havamal states (Auden and Taylor trans, Stanza 76): Cattle die, kindred die,

Every man is mortal:

But the good name never dies

Of one who has done well

All flesh drops away. What we pass along, what remains after we are gone from this life, are the results of those choices. The Hamingja inherited by our descendants is created and molded by the actions we take. We can hand off a burden, or we can lighten that future load.

Having to dig out from under a family scandal is not a fair thing to have to do. Many are so saddled.

People often say, "count to ten before speaking when angry." But what are we supposed to accomplish in that ten-count? If we focus on the idea of how this will affect those who come after (and that includes the you that has to live with what you're about to say or do!), we can accomplish quite a lot. Turning toward the honest and honorable choices could mean the difference between wrapping up a crisis or deepening it. Wrapping it up means the chance to walk away from it and into the next phase of living, taking the lessons learned and applying them, and building a positive reputation and better luck.