Have you ever looked at someone and thought they were lucky? I know I have on a few occasions. Sometimes luck is just being at the right place at the right time. For example, when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere and you get across the railroad tracks just as the crossing gates come down. Or, you play the lottery and win a bunch of money. That’s being lucky.

But, what about when you see someone receive opportunities that you wish you could have. Is it just pure luck? Maybe you think they were lucky to be born with pure talent and that’s why they get these opportunities. You may know people who seem like they never have to work to develop their skills. I’ve had people say to me “You are so talented [creative]. I wish I had your talent.” I don’t know if talent/skill/creativity can be simplified into the luck of the draw. We are each born with unique abilities. How we think and process information is somewhat hereditary, but it also has to do with exposure to concepts and our own personal experiences.

I think my family is gifted with creative talent, but many of us don’t pursue it. I’m a very left/right brain thinker. Besides my lifelong interest in the arts, I also had interest and skill in science and math. My parents took us to museums and camping. From a young age, my dad taught me how to use tools and work around the house and my mom introduced me to textile art. They both taught me to cook. I think my luck comes from being born into a family that exposed me to a variety of things. I found comfort in learning new art and textile skills. Yet, I felt self-sufficient knowing how to change a tire, or oil, in my car. We didn’t have a lot of money, so definitely not much “luck” there. I had to work to pay my own way through college.

Although I admit to thinking some opportunities seem lucky, I’m learning that these opportunities are usually based on how someone used the resources they were given. I’ll never get accepted into an exhibit, if I don’t apply. My skill as a textile artist wouldn’t be what it is today, if I stopped after first quilt. And, I wouldn’t be able to knit socks, if I didn’t read a book to learn.

Fact is, if you dream something and don’t work toward it, the dream won’t come true. So I encourage you to avoid making comparisons with yourself to other people. What they have, you may not have (yet). However, if you want to have it, look deeper into their story to discover how they got there. Learn from them, because their roots might go deeper than you think.