The Dancing Rabbit

The Dancing Rabbit

Did you ever have a good luck charm, or at least something that, once you got it, things went well? I think I have one now. It kind of snuck into my life. At first I thought it was the result of an impractical, impulsive desire to have something I didn't really need. My advice, now that I have it, is to nurture it and be inspired by it. These things don't come along everyday. 

We had walked into a gallery in Montreal to look at Inuit art—dancing bears more exactly, carved stone bears on one leg in dance, precisely. We had bought one years ago and loved it. On entering the gallery, I mentioned the carver's name and immediately a large bear was pulled from a case and placed on a pedestal and twirled around for me to view. I was now considered a collector and these were beautiful and expensive. The gallery staff assured me I had great taste and offered a discount. In an effort to avoid further discussion, I drifted to the back where I met up with Marlene. She asked if I had noticed a piece nearby. I had never seen a dancing rabbit before and it was the only one in the gallery. Our discussion triggered attention and out of the case and onto the pedestal it went. The manager offered us an even deeper discount and, after I mumbled that we didn't want to spend a lot, offered an even larger one. As Marlene photographed the rabbit so we could think about it, he offered still a deeper cut. We were out the door with a promise to return. The rabbit was goofy and unique and we returned after a one minute sidewalk discussion and purchased him. That's when the questioning began: why would we need one? Where can we put it? How much did I just spend? 

Days passed. The sore throat I had had for years went away. Then, a couple came into our gallery and, out of the blue, bought two of my wood carvings, the price totaling more than I had just spent on the rabbit. I'm off the hook, I thought. Tonight, after we finished dinner, we sat wishing there was some dessert and then remembered there was leftover pudding in the refrigerator. With all these positive developments, I began to look at things differently. Part of having a good luck charm is being aware that you have one and expecting it to work. A rabbit’s foot, a four-leaf clover or any special coin is powerless without believing in it. I thought: the ability to put hope in such silly objects empowers us to imagine better times and succeed through positive thinking. I was now on a path to success. 

Today, I realize such charms are really just tools to help us focus. That if luck is important in living well, then expecting luck, depending on it and managing our lives for it can be neatly boxed in any object that focuses us on positive results. At least, that's what I 'm going to do with my rabbit. I have faith in him. He  dances in my shop on a table in the sun. Whether logical or not, I expect a few more good days this summer and I will be doing all that I can to make his wishes come true.