Luck is all around us. People seem to get lucky everyday. A lucky bargain hunter became a millionaire after finding an original print of the Declaration of Independence in the frame of an old painting. A policeman promised a waitress half the winnings from his lottery ticket, thinking that there was no way that he would win and a week later he won the jackpot and he kept his word by sharing it with her. Donald Trump once gave a lucky waiter a $10,000 tip.  In 1950 a church in Nebraska exploded but no one was hurt because every member of the choir was late for their practice. There are also several examples of different rituals, activities, talismans and situations that some people believe may influence their luck. For example, many people will consider that if a black cat crosses their path or if they break a mirror it is a sign of bad luck. Many people also perceive that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. On the other hand there are many good luck signs. For example, horseshoes, rabbit’s feet, four leaf clovers, finding pennies that were made on the same year that you were born, and pigeons pooping on you are all considered lucky.

Some people believe that luck is real. Mesoamerican religions, such as the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas, had particularly strong beliefs regarding the relationship between rituals and luck. In these cultures, human sacrifice was seen as a way to please the gods and bring about luck to them and their city. People also think that if you expect good fortune and believe in luck then you will actually be lucky. Bill Gates put luck in his list of things that have helped him succeed in life along with his smarts, creativity, and sense of timing. Bill Gates believes that being born to his parents and becoming childhood friends with his future Microsoft partner Paul Allen is a great example of why he is lucky.

Luck is not real. There are 300 million people in the United States. A one-in-a-million chance happens 300 times a day. Worldwide it happens 6000 times a day. Luck is probability taken personally. Another view states that there is no luck because everything is controlled by a greater power. Einstein made the comment that ‘God does not play dice’. Although Albert was an atheist he meant that every event happens because that is the way God planned it out and not because of luck or fate.

Luck happens everyday, some people believe luck is real, and luck is proven to be false. So the next time you wish somebody “good luck”, know that you are actually wishing them a chance that something good will happen to them beyond their control.