Page 46 - LIN March-2023 50-84-sent

Luck o' the Irish

and more Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade, as seen on Third St. S.

by Karen Coney Coplin
id you know that some of the most As some say, "progress not perfection" is key, as consistent action
successful miners in the gold (and is better than remaining at a standstill. Be curious and keep moving
Dsilver) rush in the 19th century were toward your goal, whatever that may be.
Irish immigrants? This is one of the reasons Thus, a third type of luck would be in your preparation. This
the term Luck o' the Irish came to be, though it relates to your knowledge and personal experience which is a
was not necessarily deemed a compliment at the springboard to opportunities with potential and promise. Some say
time. it's a lucky break. Others say it is the basis for identifying new and
Instead, it was a disdainful way of stating helpful connections.
that the Irish miners making great fortunes did so because of Finally the fourth type of luck, which is unique to you, comes
chance, rather than through their skilled efforts and hard work. to you because of your distinctive character traits or skills. This is
Of course, Luck o' the Irish can also refer to bad luck. This the type of luck which would favor you and your hobbies, strengths,
interpretation was derived by the sheer numbers of people who lifestyle choices and skill set.
had to leave Ireland, particularly during the potato famine years of This last category is one in which you have the power within
1845 to 1852, when a million perished due to starvation. Of those yourself and with external actions, to create a personal master plan
leaving, many landed in America, in time for the gold rush and or roadmap if you will, toward good fortune, however, you might
also finding their fortunes with silver mining in the later years of describe that it.
the 19th century. All of these types of luck exist around each of us but the one
Most of us associate clovers as an Irish symbol of good luck. I would like to banish is "tough luck," where we turn our backs on
The four-leaf clover is said to represent faith, hope, love and luck. others who have experienced grief, hardship, illness or other losses.
A lucky charm if you will! Just as one person can, in an instant, claim the lives of so many
Just as each of the four leaves represent good tidings, there are and ruin countless others, we all have the power to extend a kind
studies which state there are four kinds of luck: both good luck and word and lift another up. These little ripples do not generate
bad luck of the kind you can influence, prepare for, or create. Some headlines, but they do have the power to make lives better. And
people term the outcome of this type of preparation for good luck there probably are unknown but countless other instances where acts
"flow," or synchronicity. of kindness such as these have saved lives too.
Likewise, there are both good and bad luck of the random sort. We can listen to each other's stories and celebrate little victories,
Serendipity would be one way to describe a lucky outcome that even if those telling them are in the midst of a difficult journey. In
seemingly happens by chance. And we all hope not to be struck which case we can offer encouragement and support.
with the fate of bad luck. These thoughts will be on my mind this month and especially at
Other categories for the four kinds of luck include blind luck, the Naples St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday, March 11, which
which happens without regard to action on your part. celebrates all things Irish. May the (good) Luck o' the Irish find you
Luck from motion or action look has as its foundation hard then and every day.
work, preparation, and awareness. Some of the watch words for If you enjoy colorful vignettes about life in Naples,
this type of luck include dedication and persistence. Being alert to please give Karen a follow on Instagram @Naplesbythenumbers.
possibilities or connecting the dots is also a predictor of this, and Ideas for future articles? Please email her at NaplesKCC@gmail.com.
other types of luck.

46 Life in Naples | March 2023