What is Luck, Really?

For much of my life, I thought of luck as something random—an unpredictable force that either found you or passed you by. But over time, I’ve come to see luck differently. Luck isn’t about chance; it’s about the risks we take, the love we choose to give, and our willingness to embrace the unknown. It’s not something that happens to us but something we create when we open our hearts to possibility.

In this blog, I share a story about how my rescue dogs Gypsy and Reason transformed my understanding of luck—one that reminded me that the greatest rewards often come when we step past fear and into the unknown. I invite you to read on and explore how luck might not be something we wait for, but something we make.

Gypsy entered my life at a time of deep heartache. I had just said goodbye to my beloved dog, Reason, after 14 years together. He had been with me through some of the most important moments of my life—career changes, cross-country moves, building my practice, and falling in love with my partner, Mark. Reason was there through every joy, challenge, and experience. The void he left behind was enormous, and even as I write this, I feel tears welling in my eyes. He was a once-in-a-lifetime dog, and I always believed I was ‘lucky’ to have found him in a small rescue in Maryland.

When it came time to adopt another dog, I doubted I could be lucky twice. What if this new dog didn’t fit into my life as seamlessly as Reason had? What if they had behavioral issues or weren’t affectionate? I felt paralyzed, afraid to make the wrong choice. Then, I remembered what guided me when I chose Reason—I wanted to give a dog a chance, one that might be overlooked by others.

That’s when I found Gypsy. A five-year-old Shih Tzu, she had been found roaming the streets of New Mexico—severely underweight, matted, with bad knees, bad teeth, and no signs of prior training. The rescue organization had saved her from a high-kill shelter less than 24 hours before she was scheduled to be euthanized. Over the next three months, they took a chance on her, tending to her medical needs and surrounding her with love. When I applied to meet her, she was described as “ridiculously easy and quiet. She sleeps most of the day.”

Mark and I drove to Fort Collins to meet Gypsy, and all my fears resurfaced. Do I want a quiet dog? Do I want a ‘couch potato’? Will she connect with me? Will she be fun? After taking her for a walk, I expressed my concerns to Mark. He looked at me and said, “You always say you want to give a dog a second chance. If there’s ever been a dog that needs one, it’s this one.” He reminded me of the risk I took with Reason—and how lucky I felt in return. So, with an open heart and some lingering hesitation, we left that snowy night with Gypsy curled in my lap.

Her foster family had said she wasn’t playful, didn’t engage much, and was a picky eater. But over the next few months, we gave Gypsy space to grow into whoever she was meant to be. Slowly, she began to show more personality. She discovered toys, started to play, and blossomed into the sweetest, funniest, most affectionate little dog. And then, one day, she did something that brought tears to my eyes—she brought me a ball. The very same way Reason used to. It was as if she was saying, “I’m here. I’m ready.”

That’s when I realized—we weren’t ‘lucky’ to have found this amazing dog. We had taken a risk. Luck, I now see, isn’t about being in the right place at the right time. It’s about being open to possibilities, taking a leap of faith, and allowing love to find you in unexpected ways. It’s about stepping past fear, past uncertainty, and trusting that something beautiful is waiting on the other side.

When I think about my journeys with Reason and Gypsy, I know now that neither were about luck. They were about being willing to embrace the unknown, even when it felt scary. Luck isn’t something that happens to us but something we create when we open our hearts to new possibilities.

Opening Your Heart to Luck: The Power of Taking a Chance

Believe in new beginnings