Good luck… bad luck… who knows?

I’m going through life-changing moments in my life.

Sometimes, I’ve referred to some of these changes as “Bad Luck.”

But is it really Bad Luck?

Or maybe in a while, it’ll seem like Good Luck, depending on what happens next. You never know.

Right?

Well …

There’s an Eastern fable that tells the story of a horse breeder who, one night, leaves the grazing gate open, allowing his horses to escape. In the morning, his neighbors come to console him, saying, “What bad luck, you’ve lost everything!” The breeder replies, “Good luck… bad luck… who knows?”

Three days later, the horses returned, bringing a group of wild horses with them and doubling the stable from five to ten. The neighbors return to celebrate, exclaiming, “What good luck, you’re now a rich man!” The breeder responds, “Good luck… bad luck… who knows?”

After this fortunate event, the breeder’s son tries to tame one of the wild horses but suffers a terrible fall, breaking his leg. Once again, the neighbors come to commiserate: “What bad luck. Your son won’t be able to help you, and you’ll have so much work!” The breeder remains calm, saying, “Good luck… bad luck… who knows?”

A week later, the army arrives to recruit all the young men in the village for war. The only one spared is the breeder’s son, bedridden with his broken leg. Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows!

What I love about this fable is that it beautifully illustrates the unpredictable nature of events and their outcomes, challenging our perceptions of luck.

It serves as a profound metaphor for our lives, where the labels of “good” and “bad” luck are often fluid and context-dependent.

The story highlights the importance of perspective and resilience, critical components in navigating life’s ups and downs.

Consider how the breeder leaves the gate open, and his horses escape.

It seems like bad luck, right?

But then the horses come back with even more horses.

This surprise bonus illustrates the idea of maximizing chance opportunities.

By being open to unexpected changes, we can sometimes turn an apparent mistake into a win.

The breeder’s refrain, “Good luck… bad luck… who knows?” is a lesson in staying balanced and not getting too rattled by what happens.

This mindset aligns with the idea that optimistic people believe good things will happen, and they often do.

This optimism helps them navigate through tough times, seeing opportunities where others might only see obstacles.

Another key point is about intuition.

“Lucky people” often have a strong gut feeling about things and they trust it.

While the fable doesn’t explicitly mention the breeder’s intuition, his calm demeanor suggests he has an inner confidence that things will work out one way or another.

Finally, the twist where the son’s broken leg keeps him from going to war is a perfect example of turning bad luck into good.

What seems like misfortune (the son’s injury) turns out to be a blessing in disguise (he’s not taken to war).

This is all about resilience—the ability to adapt and bounce back when things don’t go as planned.

So, what can we learn from this fable for our own lives?

First, we can be more open to new experiences and not fear the unknown.

Sometimes, what seems like a setback can lead to new and exciting opportunities.

Trusting our intuition can also guide us through the unpredictability of life. It’s about finding a balance between rational thought and that gut feeling we often ignore.

Even when things seem bleak, maintaining a positive outlook can transform our experiences. Optimism isn’t about ignoring reality but finding the silver lining and believing in the possibility of good outcomes.

And lastly, when faced with “bad luck,” try to see it from a different perspective. Ask yourself, how can this situation be turned around? What can I learn from it?

The fable of the horse breeder reminds us that life is full of surprises, both good and bad.

By adopting certain attitudes and behaviors, we can create our own luck.

So next time you face a twist in your story, remember: good luck, bad luck… who knows?

What truly matters is how we respond to life’s unfolding events.