Happiness is feeling lucky

Hello family:

 One thing I learned this past week when I was in Japan is that people there are a little superstitious and believe in luck so given that we just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day I figure this is the perfect time to talk about feeling lucky. 

Someone posted on Facebook that they found a four- leaf clover. It's also called a shamrock and it is believed to bring good luck to anyone who can find one of them. Tradition has it that a four- leaf clover is the universal symbol for good luck which offers magical protection and guards against bad luck.

 Each of the four leaves of the clover represents a different element: One leaf is for faith, one is for hope, one is for love and one is for luck. Everyone wants a bit of luck in their lives because many believe that its luck that leads us to those serendipitous moments where a "pure coincidence" leads us to happy or even life changing event. So if we can't find a four -leaf clover, than what can we do to bring good luck and serendipity into our lives? 

A study was done at a University in London to determine if there were patterns to people's serendipitous experiences. They asked people to submit their own stories and what they found through their study is that their serendipity is far more than an accident. 

By looking for patters, Dr. Makri, who is working on the project found two things in common: First they realized that an opportunity was presented to them, Then they seized the opportunity and took action. "When it comes to experiences such as walking down the road and bumping into someone you haven't seen in years, who goes on to offer you a job or introduce you to the love of your life, several things need to happen. First, you need to notice the old friend, Then you need to stop and talk to them, even though you might be busy or running late. Finally, you need to follow up on whatever might come out of that conversation." 

They concluded in the study that serendipity requires three things: 

*An element of luck that is out of your control 

*Having the wisdom to spot the opportunity, and

*Acting on the opportunity.

While I like reading about this study, I think Serendipity is slightly different from theirs, perhaps because of my personal religious beliefs. I too believe that Serendipity requires three things, but I would explain them a little differently. 

*Living your life in such a way that you are trying to do the right things, which will place you in the right place, at the right time for The Lord to bring opportunities into your life. 

* Having the wisdom to always be listening for the Spirit’s guidance so you will notice these opportunities.

* Having the faith to be courageous enough to act on these opportunities, trusting that if you do your best, Heavenly Father will make sure the outcome will be whatever He knows is the best thing for you. I don't think serendipitous events happen by accident. I think they happen by divine intervention when we are trying our best to do what is right. I can assure you of that!

Coming back from Japan this past week charged my batteries in such a way that I have so much more confidence each day that what we are doing here in the Philippines is so important. I am happier, more relaxed and more excited about the future. I feel so blessed! 

I am also more aware and open to opportunities around me in this new place we call home. I know My Heavenly Father will direct us to the people and the places and the opportunities that He knows will make us into the very best person we can be. At the moment we are looking at moving in the same building where the Area Presidency lives.

I am less afraid of what people might perceive as a failure because I know that as long as I try my very best, even if it appears to be a failure, that God will still be happy with me for trying so hard and if I learned from it and grew from it then it wasn't a failure at all in His eyes. He knows I am doing my very best and that should be enough. " I am enough" 

I also pay more attention to everyone around me so I won't miss someone that God intended me to meet. I am also more mindful of others and I am more willing to serve others when I see them in need. Knowing that God might have placed them in my path so that I could help them, or so that they could teach me. By the way, I will be teaching Relief Society. Those are the kind of things that lead to those serendipitous events in my life which continue to introduce me to experiences that teach me the greatest lessons, bring about the greatest joys, and cause me to feel the greatest happiness. I love my life!

Faith, Hope, Love and Luck. That is the meaning of each of the four leaves of the four -leaf clover, and those are the same four things that have led to good luck in my life. Faith is first for me without question. That faith gives me hope. My love for my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus is what grows my faith and helps me believe during tough times. And together those things bring me good luck and happiness. 

At the start of the Holy Week I want to wish you a happy Easter and to never forget Him and the sacrifice He suffered for you and me and for all mankind so we can be in His presence someday.  

Con amor,

Vero