Luck, a Matter of Attitude

My name is Peter O'Donnell and I'm a wealthy Irishman. Ireland, my country, is the land of luck. Maybe that's why our national color is green, same as the lucky shamrock's. But not all Irish people are naturally lucky; to tell the truth, most of them have just as much luck as anyone else, although they are always watching out for luck's little opportunities.
During my young years I was just a simple Irish lad looking for a chance to build my destiny but, back then, Ireland wasn't living its best years, and work and money were scarce. I was 18 years old when I decided to try for my fate elsewhere.
Being Shannon my hometown, I managed to get to the port of Cork, where I boarded a ship bound to Portugal, precisely to Porto, believing that in the continent there might be more opportunities for a young man. I carried with me scarcely enough to pay for a couple of meals, so I felt the urgency to get any job, whatever it could be.
But those were tough times in Europe. World War II was just over and economy had collapsed. In the night of my arrival day I got mugged just after leaving the ship; which rendered me empty handed in a country where I didn't even understand the language.
While I was sitting at the pier, still mourning for my bad luck, a middle aged man was watching me with a smile on his face; as if he were just waiting for me to notice him, which I hadn't because I was feeling sorry for myself, looking down and cursing my luck.
After some time the man got closer to me and said something in Portuguese that I didn't understand. He looked wealthy, so I showed him my empty right hand; as if asking for a coin. He put his hand in his jacket's pocket and reached for something, which turned out not to be money, but a little book with a worn out green cover. He let me have it and turned around to leave the scene.
Five years had passed by when I got to understand the little book's contents and decided to put them to work for my benefit; and scarcely another five years later I had become a wealthy Irishman, back in his hometown, rich and respected in his thirtieth birthday. People used to point me out to others, whispering that I was the luckiest man they had ever met, telling my story but ignoring my secret.
Now I present you the translation to English of the original text of "La suerte, cuestión de actitud", by Fortunato Buenaventura. Attention has been given to follow as closely as possible Mr. Buenaventura's original words. You are hereby invited to download it or to order your personal copy, which I know for sure will work as the ultimate lucky charm for you.

Dettagli