When Things Go Your Way—and When They Don’t

Good luck and bad luck often seem clear at the time, but the true meaning of an event may not become apparent until much later.

There was a news report that a well-known professional athlete had been involved in a traffic accident.

Judging from the circumstances, it seemed that the cyclist may also have been partly at fault. However, since the accident involved a car and a bicycle, the driver of the car will probably bear the greater responsibility, even though both are legally considered vehicles.

No one sets out intending to cause a traffic accident, so I feel sorry for everyone involved.

The athlete had already been dropped from the national team because of an injury. It was one misfortune after another.

Before the injury, the athlete had been selected for the national team and was expected to play an important role. Then, one unfortunate event followed another.

Things were simply not going their way.

It might be understandable if any of this had happened by choice, but of course it had not.

In life, everything has two sides.

Perhaps the athlete’s injury is actually minor, and receiving treatment at an early stage may help protect and prolong their career in the years ahead.

As for the traffic accident, the fact that the other person reportedly suffered only minor injuries was at least a small mercy amid the misfortune.

As we go through life, there are times when things go our way and times when they do not.

When things are going well, we rarely stop to think about how fortunate we are—unless, perhaps, we have won the lottery.

When things are going badly, however, we reflect deeply on our lack of luck.

And yet, something that appears to be nothing but misfortune at the time may take on a different meaning later.

At the moment something happens, we cannot really know whether it is fortunate or unfortunate.

We have no choice but to accept what has happened. And whenever possible, I would like to turn it into an opportunity and make use of it in my own life.

What seems like misfortune today may reveal a different meaning tomorrow.

・・・

things go one’s way
物事が思いどおりに進む、運が向いている
Nothing seemed to be going his way that week.

be partly at fault
一部に責任がある、多少の落ち度がある
The cyclist may also have been partly at fault.

bear responsibility
責任を負う
The driver may bear the greater responsibility.

one misfortune after another
不運が次々と重なること。「踏んだり蹴ったり」に近い表現。
It was one misfortune after another.

everything has two sides
何事にも二面性がある。日本語の「表裏一体」に近い表現。
In life, everything has two sides.

a small mercy amid the misfortune
不幸の中でのせめてもの救い。「不幸中の幸い」。
The fact that no one was seriously injured was a small mercy amid the misfortune.

take on a different meaning
別の意味を帯びる、違う意味を持つようになる
The experience may take on a different meaning later.

turn something into an opportunity
出来事を好機に変える。「奇貨とする」を自然な英語で表したもの。
She turned the setback into an opportunity to reconsider her future.

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