You say, good fortune used to meet you at every corner. But the fortunate person is the one who gives themselves a good fortune. And good fortunes are a well-tuned soul, good impulses, and good actions. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.36

[from The Daily Stoic; Ryan Holiday and Steven Hanselman; New York, NY: Portfolio/Penguin, 2016, p. 158]

I’ve been lucky in the people I’ve loved and the meaningful work I’ve found. It feels like good fortune, like being in the right place at the right time. That being said, I’d bet that had I lived in different places and loved different people, I’d feel the same. The particulars of an alternate path would be just as beautiful and holy and joyful.

But I’m glad that the particulars of my life are what and who they are. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.