February 13, 2026
Morning Reflections
Lucky at the Beginning of the Pier…
This morning felt like a gift before I even reached the ocean. The sun was low and golden, stretching long shadows across the sand. Surfers were already out, quietly waiting for their waves. The world felt calm… expectant… like it was holding its breath in the best way.
And before I even made it to the middle of the pier, they were there. The birds met me at the beginning.
Pigeons lined up along the wooden rail, pink feet tapping softly. Pegleg standing tall, looking out over the water. They flew toward me as if to say, “You’re here. Good. We’ve been waiting.”
There is something so deeply comforting about being greeted like that. I held up my little note that read: “LUCKY—FRIDAY THE 13TH!” @usapefit
Some people think Friday the 13th is unlucky. But standing there, surrounded by wings and waves and golden light… I felt the exact opposite.
Lucky isn’t about numbers on a calendar. Lucky is showing up. Lucky is being met. Lucky is having a place where you belong. The ocean breathed in and out beside me. The surfers caught their waves. The birds fluttered and settled and lifted again. And I stood there feeling so incredibly grateful that this pier — and these birds — feel like home. I am lucky.
Morning Gratitude Thought:
Grateful for mornings that meet me halfway. For wings at the beginning of the pier. For sunshine, surfers, and the reminder that luck isn’t superstition — it’s presence. Today, I feel lucky simply because I showed up.
