Man, I really wish I wasn't a sucker for that approach.
I bought the "lucky bamboo" plant. I've owned it for over two years now. I can't place my finger on any particular luck it's brought me. Although, given my black thumb I guess it's kind of lucky that it's still alive at all. You might even say that it's thriving. I recently noticed that it probably needs to be re-potted, or something. (I hope I don't kill it in the process.)The story card that came with it said that:
"According to Feng Shui masters, wherever bamboo is placed, good fortune is sure to follow. It's a traditional symbol of happiness, wealth and health in Asian cultures."
Maybe it's because I'm not part of the Asian culture that I haven't been overwhelmed with all of those things. Well, actually... Now that I think about it, I guess we have had some good fortune in the past two years. I mean, I think I was thinking more along the lines of winning the lottery, or something. (Although, actually buying a ticket occasionally might go a long way towards making that dream come true.)
The more I ponder the past couple of years I'm thinking, maybe I should get another bamboo plant for my bedroom. Uhh...not that I need LUCK in the bedroom, per se. (I realize that could be taken the wrong way!) It's just that several ferns and two very lovely orchids have met their demise in my attempt to add some plantish vibe to that room over the past two years. I mean, frankly, it's one of two types of plant that I haven't managed to kill. I guess for me that's probably luck enough.
Oh, and don't even get me started on karma. I fell for that one, too. I saw this cute, dainty little bracelet in a catalogue. It was a tiny silver circle on a linen string. It was really the description that sucked me in, though. I was at a particularly vulnerable moment of chaos in my life when I came across it. The "story" for the bracelet was as follows: "Karma - What goes around, comes around... Wear your bracelet as a reminder to keep the circle positive, peaceful and loving."It's okay, go ahead and laugh. I fell for that one hook, line and sinker. You don't even want to know how much I paid for that stupid string that was constantly in my way while applying lotion, washing my hands, etc. I wore it for several months because I couldn't justify NOT wearing it, having forked over the cash for this peaceful, loving concept, right?
Unfortunately, I can't say that it brought me anything in the way of peaceful or loving feelings. Quite the contrary, in fact. I'd look at it and wonder how sanitary could a string be, really? What kind of invisible germs could be living in that string after months and months of daily wear, right? I found myself soaping up the string in the shower, as my string germaphobia grew. I mean, to be fair, it was treated. Like I said, it wasn't cheap. It was waxed, or something. But still. String.
And, most recently, we have Willie the owl. Did you know that owls are a sign of wisdom and insightfulness? I didn't either! (Until, that is, I read about it in this great catalogue I get.)Technically, Willie is a Christmas ornament. I thought, however, that he'd be a great reminder to be wise and insightful if he was hanging in my kitchen window on a daily basis. I envisioned this cute, tiny little guy unobtrusively hanging in my line of sight while I peacefully washed dishes, gazing out at the view, appreciating life, etc. Sounds good, right? Well, I thought so...
Then he arrived. In a limo. Well, not a limo so much as a REALLY LARGE BOX. I did pause for a moment to wonder, why such a big box for such a tiny little owl? Well, let me tell you what, people. That picture of Willie from the catalogue is quite misleading. Those delicate little pine boughs he is hanging from must be on an old growth, humongous tree. He's pretty enormous, and not at all what one would call "unobtrusive" hanging in the window. In fact, I'm pretty sure my husband had to reinforce the curtain rod before hanging him from it.
Okay, okay. I might be embellishing just a tad, but the end result is the same. Compared to what I thought I was ordering, he is huge. But, never one to give up on a dream, he IS hanging in my kitchen window. He is a reminder to me that a really wise person ALWAYS looks at the measurements before ordering something from a catalogue. Plus, he gives the kids one more thing to make fun of me for. Thankfully, they never really knew the real story of the bamboo or the bracelet. Some things are not meant to be shared with your spawn.
You might wonder why I was inspired to write about this today. (Or maybe not, if I'm as transparent as some say.) It turns out that when you are the type of person who makes purchases of the above nature, your name gets on a list. You have no idea how many catalogues I get with items promising peace, luck, karma, happiness, etc. And so many of them are so tempting, really.
I saw this great necklace. Here is the story: "'There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way….' A Zen koan—a paradoxical statement meant to promote enlightenment—becomes even more powerful when engraved on a Möbius strip, itself a paradox."I mean, really. How freaking cool is that?
At the end of the day, I'm raising two teenagers. (With the help of an amazing, wonderful, supportive - and let's get down to brass tacks, not running for the hills yet, husband.) But still, I need all of the help I can get. And if a stupid string bracelet, or a paradoxical necklace helps at all...
I haven't decided if I have convinced myself that I should or should not get the necklace, but one thing did just occur to me. I think I'll go double check the measurements. Those are a lot of words to cram onto the tiny little delicate thing I'm envisioning around my neck. My luck it will turn out to be the size of a dinner plate.
Thanks, Willie... ;)
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