June 2026
Let’s Get Lucky! I know I have written on this topic before, and probably will again, but while listening to another Mel Robbins podcast, I was introduced to author Tina Seelig, who wrote the book What I Wish I Knew About LUCK. I started reading it and saw that her research aligned with my philosophy about luck. When I wrote my novel, More Than Luck Required, I wanted to convey that it takes more than luck to transform a life. Here is a shout-out… it takes bold, risky action! And no one can do what it takes but you. However, Seelig gave me a few ideas for expanding my ideas on how to become luckier.
I think that early in our lives, as we define who we are, we pick up identity clues. When a situation in a child’s life brings comments like, “Oh, you have such bad luck.” From then on, we have our radar open to scenarios that verify whether being unlucky is who we are and defines our destiny. So, when your bike gets stolen, or when you miss the shot that could have won the game, or when the guy you like chooses another girl when you couldn’t go to the party, you chalk it up to your “bad luck”. This collection of evidence can go on and on throughout your years. But while your radar is picking up on your “bad luck”, you stop seeing when luck arrives or when there is an opportunity you could take that would bring you “luck”.
Seely defines luck as the result of choices you make and chances you take, which differs from fortune, an external force outside our control. Fortune, good or bad, happens to you. Seely sees luck as happening when you build a path to its door. Luck requires taking calculated risks and a willingness to go into uncertainty to open up opportunities. I have not finished Seely’s book yet. It will be one I slowly digest over time, but I can give you some tips on how to increase your luck from what I have read thus far.
TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR LUCK: 1. Take a chance when you see that you have a measurable amount of influence over the outcome. What looks arbitrary from the outside is usually the result of deliberate decisions and behaviors. 2. Have a curious and observant mind. Be willing to take risks, adapt to challenges, and seize opportunities as they arise. Remember, luck doesn’t find you; you find opportunities where you can build luck. 3. Harnessing “good luck” requires active changes in your behavior. Luck shows up when you act. 4. Experimental researchers Peter R Drake and Jonathan L. Freeman say, “People who think of themselves as lucky tend to spot more opportunities to harness good luck.”
Seely suggests thinking of life as a “luck laboratory” where lucky prospects often beget future lucky prospects. Encircling yourself with people who match your values and approach to life is an important aspect of generating luck. Seely also suggests you be a person who shows appreciation, helps others, demonstrates curiosity, and becomes adept at conflict resolution and problem-solving. When people see how you live in alignment with your values, they trust your credibility. With this trust, they will more likely seek to collaborate with you and provide “good luck” opportunities.
That’s all for now on the topic of luck, but isn’t this exciting? As I read on, Seely goes deeper into defining and aligning your life with your core values, and how that affects luck. She also warns about how not adhering to your values is a slippery slope that can bring “bad luck” your way.
Book Review: Far From Unremarkable by Laura Joy Lloyd is the second book in her Wren Island series. Laura writes her stories through the innovative style she calls interactive serialization fiction. She invites people from her life and her followers to offer story suggestions, which might then influence the direction of her characters’ lives and, thus, the story plot. Laura is self-published, and you can see by her cover and the book’s interior design that she has lovingly attended to every aspect of what she has created for her readers. I enjoyed this second book in the series even more than the first. Laura is a master at showing how ordinary people become extraordinary when they experience the acceptance, love, and care fostered within the Wren Island community. You might even end the novel wishing you could move to Wren Island.
My Publishing Journey: My novel had its first birthday on June 5th. During this past year, the novel has traveled on a cruise to foreign lands (Think Flat Stanley’s Adventures). The ebook has been downloaded and read in the UK, Canada, and Australia. It has now been translated into two other languages. The novel is now available as an audiobook and ebook. As an author, I have been on a radio talk show and a few literary podcasts; I have been written up in a local newspaper and been a featured author at a few Barnes & Noble stores. I have set up my sales table at bookstores, holiday bazaars, and book fairs. I have done a few book clubs and a speaking gig connected to the book’s theme. A week ago, I had a big interview spread in the newsletter for More Books. Most of you wouldn’t know that marketing is now the job of the author—unless you’re well-known or your book hits it big with readers. So, I have learned to make and place my own ads on Facebook and Instagram. This year, my book is up against thousands of other debut books, all looking for their book to be found. The marketing side of being an author is a lot of work, and nowadays, not many authors can say they make enough money to quit their day job. Authors are also being targeted by scammers, and they can be clever. I learned by accident that my book was pirated in a few countries and that my publisher did not copyright my book, as the contract stated. (This is more widespread than one might think.) Lately, I have taken a break from writing fiction to write Staying Close: A Grandparents’ Guide to Connecting with College Grandkids. I am self-publishing this one, so the learning curve for the formatting software and how to download it into Amazon and Ingram Spark has been a challenge for me. I’ll get there, but believe me, at 76 years-of-age, I sometimes wonder why I do all of this.
A reminder: These newsletters are for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for mental health counseling. There is no shame in getting mental health help. Call 988 if you have an urge to harm yourself or someone else. Taking care of ourselves is an important thing to do.
