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Get lucky! Quit lookin' over that four-leaf clover. We clue you in on the real secrets to getting yourself some groovy breaks.


It's St. Party's Day, and you are so into it! You're rockin' an emerald-green mini with matching shamrock earrings--and you're sure all that green is bound to bring you a whole lotta luck o' the Irish.

But when you cruise into homeroom home·room  
n.
A school classroom to which a group of pupils of the same grade are required to report each day.

Noun 1. homeroom
, you hear Sarah-not you--has been named MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip.  of your b-ball team. At lunch, you spot your sweet crush Peter flirtin' up a storm with Maria--not you. And at the drama club meeting, your teacher announces Kyra--not you--has snagged the lead in the spring musical. Guess those chicks are the ones with all the luck, while you're one bummed-out tittle leprechaun leprechaun (lĕp`rəkŏn), Irish fairy represented as a tiny old man. Leprechauns are mischievous and elusive creatures, said to possess buried crocks of gold, the location of which they will reveal if forced. .

But here's the thing: Luck isn't something that just magically happens. You can create your own good fortune. Sure, we all know girls who seem to lead charmed lives with amazing a·maze  
v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es

v.tr.
1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise.

2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex.

v.intr.
 opportunities falling out of the sky 24/7. But, chances are, the real reason they've cornered the market on cool stuff isn't random at all. Instead, it's because they made smart moves at the right time. And you can, too!

Ready to get started? Read on as GL reveals supersecret strategies to becoming a truly lucky duck.

Lucky Law #1

TAKE CONTROL

To score the grand stuff you want out of life, your first step is to get that you, not just Beyonce, are truly Destiny's Child This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.
You can assist by [ editing it] now.
. That's right. To a very large extent, you control your path. Now, that's not to say unexpected problems or challenges won't block your progress from time to time. But if you truly want something, you have the power to push past those obstacles and make it happen.

Your BFF BFF Best Friends Forever (chat)
BFF Best Foot Forward
BFF Ben Folds Five (band)
BFF Born Free Foundation
BFF Binary File Format
BFF Boston Film Festival
BFF Biotech Finance Forum
 Aisha is a perfect example. She loves to sing and auditioned for the ultra-competitive state chorus. When she didn't make it, though, did she vow never to belt another note? No. Aisha formed her own band and won first place in the school talent show.

You have to outlast out·last  
tr.v. out·last·ed, out·last·ing, out·lasts
To last longer than.


outlast
Verb

to last longer than

Verb 1.
 bad outcomes. That old saying about one door opening when another one closes is true. When things don't turn out quite as planned, unexpected opportunities are often created. Believe in yourself, and your view of life will get plasma-screen-TV big.

Lucky Law #2

SEIZE YOUR OPPS OPPS Outpatient Prospective Payment System (hospital/medical)  

Here's an interesting tidbit: Research shows unlucky people have the same number of fortunate opportunities thrown their way as lucky people. The difference? Lucky people always have their eyes open and their antennae tuned to what's in their orbits. Like, say, cute guys! This is why a girl like Maria has no trouble charming your super-hot crush Peter. Yes, she has the gift of gab gift of gab
n.
The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly.
, but she also notices the little details--like how Peter mentioned how much he digs that Death Cab for Cutie cut·ie also cut·ey  
n. pl. cut·ies also cut·eys Informal
A cute person.
 track. She compliments his taste in tunes, he's way-flattered, and boom--they click in a major way.

So how can you become one of fortune's faves? Chill out chill out Informal
Verb

to relax, esp. after energetic dancing at a rave

Adjective

chill-out

suitable for relaxation after energetic dancing: a chill-out area 
. If you want to truly take advantage of every windfall life blows in your direction, staying relaxed and focused--even in high-pressure sitches like being around your crush--is crucial. The less hectic your mind is, the easier it is to be aware of everything around you. Luck shows up when you're looking for Looking for

In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with.
 it.

Lucky Law #3

LOVE HARD WORK

One thing's for sure--there are no shortcuts See Win Shortcuts.  in luck. While lucky people tend to make things look easy, we promise there's a whole lot of hard work behind that lucky break. Sarah didn't become your b-ball team's MVP by hanging around the house like a lazy tuna, giving herself manicures and watching TRL TRL

In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Turkish Lira.

Notes:
The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion.
. She stayed way late after practice to shoot zillions of hoops.

Staying on task and working hard are key to making things happen. Lucky people know that while there will always be times when giving it your all doesn't end in success, there are a lot more times you will get what you want. Plug away at something hard enough and long enough, and you eventually will catch the break you're looking for.

Lucky Law #4

TRUST YOUR OUT

Lucky people are all about boldly going with a hunch hunch  
n.
1. An intuitive feeling or a premonition: had a hunch that he would lose.

2. A hump.

3. A lump or chunk: "She . . .
 they have about something. When you vibe out a sitch, you're actually using your common sense, and that's smart. But for gut checks to work, you need to have confidence in yourself and in what you believe. Tons of times, luck is not so much a matter of being in the right place at the right time as it is the result of making a series of good decisions.

The next time that little voice in your head tells you to go for something, go for it! On the other hand, if the same little voice is shrieking, "Stay away!" louder than your school's fire alarm, run for the hills. All the experiences you've had in your life, both rockin' and rotten, have added up to a ton of valuable knowledge. That solid-gold know-how is right there to guide your choices so things will go your way. Trusting yourself can feel a little weird at first, and it definitely takes some practice. The good news, though? The more you do it, the easier it gets ... and the luckier you'll get.

Lucky Law #5

GET A LUCKY CHARM

Lucky people know they're lucky, right down to their lucky socks. Does that sound corny corn·y  
adj. corn·i·er, corn·i·est
Trite, dated, melodramatic, or mawkishly sentimental.



[From corn1.
? Maybe. But consider this: Almost every great sports star has some luck ritual that is followed like clockwork clock·work  
n.
A mechanism of geared wheels driven by a wound spring, as in a mechanical clock.

Idiom:
like clockwork
With machinelike regularity and precision; perfectly:
. We're not saying hard work and talent don't play a part, but wearing your "lucky" sweater or rubbing that gold bracelet can give you the extra little dose of confidence you need to do well. Doesn't matter what you choose as your lucky charm--all that counts is that you believe. It's that leap of faith that gives you the edge. Superstitions aren't silly--they're just a way to lure luck into your corner of the world.

Lucky Law #6

ROAM THE ORCHARD

Lucky ducks are all about mixing it up. They're unafraid to eat that freaky-looking piece of sushi, will definitely ride the upside-down roller coaster and are the first to start a convo with the new girl. How does being adventurous help you be lucky? Imagine your world is an apple orchard. If you only stay in one corner of the orchard, sooner or later, you'll have eaten all the apples. Your trees are bare. Go to another part of the orchard, and you can bet you'll find more fruit. Bottom line? A lot of the good things in life come from the connections you make with people. The more people you know and the more cool things you do, the more lucky opportunities you will get.

Lucky Law #7

THINK POSITIVE

Our last little secret to luck in life? Think positive. When you truly feel things are going to go well, you put out the right kind of energy and (surprise, surprise) things actually go well. Unlucky people are so busy gloomin' and doomin' about what can go wrong that they give up before they even get started. For the lucky ones, it's cake. They know they have the power to make it happen, so it does. Now, lucky girl, you have the knowledge you need to score the very best life has to offer. Go out there and find your own pot of gold.
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Article Details
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Author:Mulcahy, Lisa
Publication:Girls' Life
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:Feb 1, 2006
Words:1212
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