So what do you think? Are you lucky? Yes or no. "Sometimes," you say. Right, that's what most people say. In my own informal research I usually get that answer, "Sometimes," or "It depends." Very few people will say "I am a lucky person," or "I am unlucky." But have you ever thought about what luck is? Or if luck really exists?
Generally people consider themselves lucky when something good happens and unlucky when something bad happens. And if a few "lucky" things happen in a row, then they feel they are on a "winning streak" and their luck is good. And if a few bad things happen, they feel their luck is bad or they are having a period of bad luck.
So my next question is: Can you influence your luck? Some people think so, they carry good-luck charms like a rabbit's foot or a lucky coin, or maybe they wear some lucky garment or wear a lucky color. They believe that they can influence luck. Some people even pray for things to happen, trying to influence the universe or the Power that runs the universe. Is there any way you can make yourself lucky?
My wife and her friends often buy a bunch of lottery tickets. They hope to win big, but what are the chances of winning the lottery? I think it is safe to say "very slim" to "non-existent." But what they buy for their few hundred yen is a dream. For the price of a few cups of coffee you can close your eyes on the subway and dream of never having to go down there again. You can see yourself lounging in the back of your Rolls Royce telling the driver, "Home, James."
So do I believe in luck? No, I don't. I really think things happen in a random fashion and that there is not much we can do to make them happen. As for gambling there are games of skill and games of chance. You can become a good poker player through skill (understanding the odds, remembering cards, studying the psychology of the other players). Gambling is a big business that involves games of chance. I think that if you accept the fact that you are paying for a thrill, then that is good enough. But I don't think the odds will ever be in our favor, and I don't think there is any way we can make do what we want.
So what about people who seem to be lucky? We all know them. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold. Never a misstep and always upward. I think a lot of this is just plain hard work and work that we don't see. We just see them winning, but we don't see them sweating. I think that they learn early how to succeed and just keep repeating the process through trial and error. From the outside we think they are lucky. It is no fun to think of staying focused on a goal year after year through ups and downs and setbacks and persevering till you win.
What is fun is to buy that lottery ticket and dream: "Home, James."
Q1. Do you think you've led a lucky life? Tell us your luckiest moment in your life.
あなたの今までの人生は幸福だったと思いますか?人生で一番幸福 だったときについて教えてください。
Q2. Do you believe in luck? Why or why not?
運というものを信じますか?なぜですか?
Q3. Do you think you can influence luck by carrying good-luck charms or by praying for things to happen.
お守りを携帯することや、何かが起こるように祈ることで、運を左右する ことができると思いますか?
Q4. Who do you think is the luckiest person you've ever known? How about the unluckiest person?
あなたが知っている最も幸運な人について教えてください。不幸な人に ついてはどうでしょう?
Q5. Summer vacation or Obon Yasumi is over. How did you spent the vacation?
お盆休みも終わりましたね。どのように過ごしましたか?
Lucky you ついてるね
informal research 周りの人に聞いて回るだけの調査
It depends. 場合による
Generally 概して
in a row 立て続けに
are on a "winning streak" 波に乗っている
period 時期
influence 左右する
good-luck charms 開運のお守り
rabbit's foot 幸運をもたらすというウサギの左の後ろ足
garment 衣服
pray 祈る
universe 宇宙
runs 動かす
a bunch of 〜 たくさんの〜
lottery tickets 宝くじ
win big 巨額の賞金を当てる
very slim ほんのわずかな
non-existent ゼロ
subway 地下鉄
see yourself lounging in the back of 〜 〜の後部座席にもたれかかっている自分を想像する