You can expect to get both eastern and western philosophies represented in these answers, Justine. Mine is somewhat of a blend.
Flat out, I don’t believe in good luck or bad luck. I believe you make or break your life according to your perspectives and effort. How many times have you heard a person say these things:
1— It’s me alone in the world.
2— It’s me against the world.
3— I was born under a bad sign.
4— I was born unlucky.
5— I’ve never had much luck when it comes to women/men.
6— I can’t trust anyone.
7— I’m a loner because the world sucks.
8— It’s a dog-eat-dog world.
9— Why do bad things always happen to me?
10 Why can’t I find love, when I have so much to give?
11— Fate conspires against me.
12— I never win!
The list goes on an on. Some people thinks having an unlucky life is God’s punishment for a sinful existence. Others thinks it’s because they were born unlucky, and that’s all there is to the story. You live, then you rot in the ground. If I felt like that, I wouldn’t be motivated, either. Still others think it’s karma. Some say it’s timing, as you suggested. All in good time, they say.
I think some of it sure is karma. From what I know of the universe (knowledge which could fit into a thimble, basically, but it works for me), it’s a non-emoting system of checks and balances that constantly works toward balance as the optimum state. In the universe, it isn’t end results that matters at all. Its the honesty of your heart. What your intentions are, matters here.
What you think comes to fruition. HOW you think is what you’ll get. You have to grab what you want with both hands and actually appreciate it. The biggest thing a lot of people never understand is that THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. You have to do the work to get the good stuff. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. But mostly, we’re
fighting against ourselves, and blaming everybody else for whatever happens to us. Nothing could be further from the truth.