To ask if you believe you’ve lived a luckier life than most?

[MyAmusedOpalCrab]

Whether it’s down to circumstances, timing, support, or sheer chance - do you ever stop and think, “I’ve had it easier than others?” Or do you believe we mostly make our own luck?

Not luckier than people who lived before Brexit.

They had freedom to work anywhere in the EU.

We don't.

Lots of the "luck" people are describing (let's just do UK, not whole world because that's just neverending) is actually what should be a standard not something special to feel blessed (guilty) about....

I would’ve said I have no luck and things have been tough. However, the thread that appeared under this was about children being killed in Gaza.

so I’d say everyone enjoying MN is pretty lucky and fortunate.

I feel lucky in many respects, family, finances and really importantly, good mental health and a positive outlook.

However my physical health is shit for my age and I face a long series of joint replacement surgeries and will undoubtedly still be in poor shape. So that’s quite unlucky.

I definitely have not been luckier than most.

I had an abusive mother. I had no father. I went to see my father once and he told me that he never wanted to see me again
I had no grandparents. I did not have one
Person that cared about me.
I have a brother who is depressed from all the abuse he went through.

He has tried to kill himself several times. So i have the worry of him killing himself.

Life has been utterly shit since the day i was born

I can't wait until life is over to be honest.

Exactly. I have colleagues who live in council homes, work fill time, are healthy and pay reduced rent. Life tenancy, don't even need a mortgage. Sorry but that's luck

Quite the opposite. It's just been one enormous cycle of abuse, trauma and looking after addicts.

I have resilience like you'd not believe, but it's beginning to get to me now. I'm just counting down the days until my stack of ace's catch up and I can quietly die of something terminal.

No.

i have major health issues that mean I am pretty constantly in pain, I’ve had this since my early teens.

yes, it could have been worse but not many people would choose my life.

Lucky in that I was born in the UK. Unlucky in that father was an alcoholic and mother was emotionally abusive and occasionally physically. Lucky that physically I am good, unlucky in that mentally I am more fragile than I look (only really recently realised that this is how to describe it) and have to be careful with myself. Lucky in that I have one or two lifelong friends. Not lucky because despite having unconditional offers for uni, said parents refused to fill out forms regarding their income (actually they threw the forms on the floor), and this is a bit like that poem 'for want of a nail.... the battle was lost'.

@TheWishCat ive had the same life.

I waa honestly looking into euthanasia as i just want it to be all over.

Ive had enough abuse and suffering for one life.

In global terms, even if you live a hard life in the UK it’s probably “luckier” than the global majority.

Why?

A lot of other countries are doing much better than the U.K. is.

Globally, and probably historically, lucky as fuck. Among my peers, I have known folk luckier and unluckier than me.

Depends what kind of person you are I guess! If you are a glass half full or empty! I try to be more grateful now!
I am 38, I have a healthy 6 year old boy… I had a fab pregnancy and labour. I have a lovely, supportive caring husband. My husband works full time and me part time and we have money for days out, food shopping, the mortgage and bills and a yearly family holiday. We have an average car each. We have family nearby who we ‘mostly’ get on with! We have a few different groups of friends and a nice social life.

So all in all I feel pretty lucky!

I absolutely feel lucky. My parents weren’t loving and I’ve had life long mental health issues as a result, but my childhood was physically comfortable, nice house and holidays etc. They could help me through university. My first marriage was blighted by my husbands addiction, and he was really abusive, and I eventually left him and am a single parent to 4 kids, 3 of whom are neurodiverse. It’s a lot!! But in all the craziness I was able to retrain in a career that can support us; I’ll never be rich but I can cover my outgoings. It’s hard work but I have resources to makes sure my kids get the support they need and I am getting free therapy on the NHS. I also met a wonderful man totally by accident who has made my life better in every way, and we plan to move in together one day.

I think it helps that I work with asylum seekers and women living in extreme poverty, it makes me so grateful for my life, it’s not been perfect, there’s been really difficult periods but because of the advantages I’ve had (white, British, middle class, educated) I’ve been able to navigate through them. Everyone has bad times but not everyone has hope, and hope is what gets you through.

The people who are saying that they are lucky to live in the UK.

Have you lived anywhere else?

The U.K is not doing as well as a lot of other countries are doing

So incredibly lucky, and I keep reminding myself and the DC of that. On paper we aren't worth anything, have a disabled child and a lot of adversities, but we are so much more fortunate than many, and it's luck of the draw rather than anything I've done.

I think one of the last sentences that you wrote is disgusting actually.

You said because you are white, middle class and British that you had advantages.

You wrote that like it's a good thing.

It's a bad thing of course.

So are you saying that non white people should have less advantages?

I am very sorry to hear about your sadness I don't know if there is anything to say to make it better. Step by step. Sending you virtual hugs

@Abbama How on earth did you get that? I’m aware of how my privilege has helped me navigate really hard times. I am aware other people don’t have the same advantages. I’m aware that makes me lucky.

I’ve had my share of bad luck.
but I have an overarching sense of gratitude and amazement at my circumstances.
we live a fairly humble lifestyle.
but I know a lot of friends who live in poverty - that could have easily been me. But it’s not. And that’s basically just down to luck.
and then obviously there’s huge amounts of people living in war torn countries and dealing with unimaginable horror.
I feel incredibly lucky most days

I had the most awful start in life and upbringing. However - the old saying of "the harder I work, the luckier I am" worked for me and I've had several lucky breaks in work because of it. I never ever take it for granted and I'm very thankful for every day.

I think fairly lucky.

positive.

Born in a first world country to caring parents not rich, but not poor either.
Decent amount of intelligence and no significant illnesses through my younger years.
Had a great time at school.
Managed to travel the world and get some amazing sights and experiences in on someone elses budget.
Had an interesting and exciting job.
Never been involved in any life changing accidents.
Never lost a significant lump sum of money through poor investment or luck.
No addictions.

negative.

Lost one parent fairly early.
Not brilliant in the looks department.
Never won or been the receiver of a large amount of money/benefit eg lottery win or brilliantly performing investment.
Probably my younger years were not as socially great as I would have liked. Now I don't care about that.

There isn't anything in my life I hugely regret to date.

Brought up in an abusive household suffered multiple suicides in my close family. Do I consider myself unlucky? No. I think luck has nothing to do with it. I’ve worked hard and have a lovely family. Very decent job. Is that luck? No it’s hard work. Luck has played no part in my life.