What Is Luck?
- Will Duncan
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
I consider myself to be very lucky, in the grand scheme of things. I was born in a free country into a loving family with a set of genetics that favor me socially and physically, and I’ve had the chance to travel the world many times.
My most recent vacation has brought further proof of my incredible luck. I just finished a stint in Hawaii, American Samoa, and Samoa. This was my first time exploring Pacific islands, and I found proof of my luckiness everywhere I went.
First, I departed with my family almost immediately upon arrival and struck out on the Kalalau Trail. I am an avid hiker, but this turned out to be one of the most challenging hikes of my life. Not only is nearly all of the out-and-back trail tough uphill and downhill, but it is also in one of the rainiest places on earth, making everything slippery. If that weren’t enough, much of the trail is along steep cliffside, with certain death just a single slip away. The various helicopter landing sites remind you how many emergency evacuations have taken place here. Just making it there and back again felt like a lucky stroke, but the views along the way were so breathtaking that it truly felt like a blessing to be there.
When I finished the trail and returned safe and sound to my family, we soon hopped over to the Big Island, where we were planning to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We heard that the volcano had been active lately, but eruptions usually happened on certain days of the week, and sometimes only lasted for as little as 2 hours. It turned out to erupt the exact day we were planning to drive past the park, so with minimal rearrangement of our schedule, we managed to witness the last half hour of the eruption before it stopped. The timing was truly outstanding, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for all the poor saps we saw coming into the park, just a little too late.
The rest of the vacation went incredibly, experiencing sunset in Haleakala National Park, snorkeling with sea turtles, and eating delicious fish. Then I departed from my family to take my own trip to American Samoa and Samoa. While sitting in the lobby of the hotel awaiting my first tour in American Samoa, a couple ladies from Samoa struck up a conversation. I discovered that they ran a fried chicken fast food chain called DMC, and when they invited me to come try it, I warned them that as a southern man living in the birthplace of Bojangles, I know some good fried chicken. They took me up on that bet. We exchanged numbers, and when I arrived in Samoa I had the joy of literally eating my words. Not only was the food delicious, but they drove me around Apia and took me to see the Robert Louis Stevenson House. Early the next morning they drove me an hour away so that I could reach a ferry, and when I returned, they took me out to lunch again, driving me around the island and taking me to see the Baha’i temple. (That marked the fourth I’ve seen. Two of the eight existing temples are referenced in my book, Specks of Dust.) Their names were Rita and Anne, and the level of generosity and kindness I experienced from them is something I’ve rarely seen anywhere on this planet.
There are numerous other kindnesses I received. I hitchhiked for the first time in American Samoa, and a man and his daughter headed to church picked me up and took me all the way back to the hotel. In Samoa, I hopped on a very crowded bus, full of people sitting on each other’s laps, and someone rose and insisted I take a seat.
Like I stated earlier, I am very lucky to have acquired these experiences and met these people. But there is another aspect to being lucky, and that is being prepared for these opportunities when they come and taking advantage of them.
With Kalalau, few people are allowed to even hike it, as a permit is required. By doing my research and waking up early, I was able to clinch my reservation and make sure I had the opportunity to see these sites and walk that trail. I couldn’t have completed it if I weren’t already an experienced backpacker, bringing the tools I needed such as hiking poles, and being at a level of physical ability that would enable me to pull it off.
When it comes to the volcano, I had insisted the night before that we have everything packed and ready just in case. I mentally prepared my family that if the eruption began, we needed to be ready to shift our plans to prioritize going there immediately. When I woke up early that morning, the first thing I did was check the status of the volcano, and as soon as I saw it was actively erupting, the entire family hustled and together we made it in time to see the lava spewing into the air.
As for the kindness I received, I can only hope that my deep and sincere appreciation made the efforts worthwhile to Rita and Anne to the point where they wanted to spend more time with me and felt rewarded enough to continue offering me advice, adventures, and support throughout my visit to Samoa. Had I been standoffish upon first meeting them, or ungrateful toward their initial kindnesses, I am certain the extent of their generosity would not have gone as far as it had.
As I was leaving Samoa, my carry-on luggage was so heavy that I was stopped from going on to security. I was told that I would have to check my carry-on, since it was overweight. I was a bit devastated, having already had to pay extra for one checked bag. The airline representative asked me how much cash I had, and told me that if I gave him 20 tala, he’d let me through. As I gratefully bribed this man, he looked me in the eye and told me, “be kind to everyone you meet.”
It was a direction I aim to take to heart, and it is part of my plan for how I continue to remain lucky in life.
Nor is this the end of my journeys. Stay tuned, because this blog was written from New Zealand!
