The Devil's Lawn

I've lived my life like a lawn ornament, relying on people and hunches to move me around hoping one of them will put me where I want to be doing what I want. It's not the most empowered lifestyle what with the dog peeing on me all the time and me always waiting to be three feet from wherever I am, but it does relieve me of responsibility.

I'm pretty sure Druids invented lawn ornaments. It makes sense for a lapsed Druid to cast a likeness of himself and stick it front of a bush so the neighbors won't gossip. And during football season--were the Druids big football watchers? probably not, but you know they watched and bet on something--imagine how handy a stand-in at church could be. Don't even get me started on having a doppelganger to attend your cousin's nephew's christening. Maybe, the Druids were visionaries to enhance their lives with lawn ornaments, but life for the ornaments--gnome, fawn, or mushroom--it is pretty much the same.

And I'm stuck working the lawn.

Synchronicity

Sometimes I breathe on the mirror to make sure I'm alive. You'd think walking over there would do the trick, but I need to see the steam. I need to feel the effort. But being reassured I'm alive forces the bigger question: Why?

YouTube offers a multitude of time enhancing videos on why alive happens and what to do about it, but I couldn't find a one that gave me the why of my alive. However, I discovered a new way to possibly plot a course to Why.

Synchronicity.

Synchronicity or “meaningful coincidences” are “guideposts on the path to your true self and purpose.” Okay, started looking for coincidences with characteristics implying omens. Seems like a lot of wiggle room in the interpretation department, but I've been giving it a shot and, by gosh, if nothing else it's interesting. For the last few months, I've been looking for a suburban farmhouse with a huge barn on fifteen acres with a money no object attitude. Now I never discuss my plans with coworkers or outside my inner circle yet people have started asking me if I'm a secret millionaire. Could it be my ideal house and a pile of money are close to meeting in my life and strangers sense it? Two days ago, a couple kids I was volunteering with called me “Bernie.” Guess what project I've been working on? That's right, “Bernie.” Are these innocent coincidences or comforting signs? It would really be nice if they were signs of imminent successes. Just saying.

I'd been using the Carrot and Stick method. It works well as a gauge. When I work and pursue carrots good things happen, when I wander I get the stick and bad things happen. It's pretty simple and it might work for you. Me? I'm going with synchronicity if only because it makes me pay attention.