Ok, so remember when I wrote my sappy birthday post about all the abundance in my life? Maybe it sounded woo-woo, and maybe you started wondering what was next: the waving about of sage bundles?
Whatever: I don’t care. You know why? The more I acknowledge all the blessings in my life and try to return and distribute the favors, the more abundance keeps pouring in! The faster I share it, the faster it flows. The more I try to helpfully pimp my friends, the more opportunities I keep stumbling across. The more amazing people I introduce to each other, the more amazing people I meet. The more I treat friends to meals or tip cute waiters 30%, the more I keep finding myself being treated and spoiled and gah!
I can’t share it all fast enough. I’ve been reduced to stealing parking tickets from friend’s cars, paying them quietly on the side. I can’t help myself from secretly ordering gifts for unsuspecting helpful types who have explicitly told me I don’t owe them anything. When an old friend told me about a great book idea she’s working on, I asked her if I could pass it on to my lit agent for consideration … and then couldn’t wait for her answer and referred her anyway.
But the abundance just keeps rising. It’s up to my knees now, with my boss informing me that the company I contract with wants to hire me permanently this fall — and they want me stay at my beloved part-time hours. Oh and they want to give me a raise. WTF?! And I got a call yesterday from a dotcom that’s interested in trying to find ways that they can work with me to promote my book using their product. And then there’s Andreas, who surprised me with book-finishing congratulatory gifts like sweet smelling oils from Tenzing Momo. What happens when all these blessings rise to my neck? Do I start gasping for air? Do I start coughing on all the goodness?
Naw … chances are that at that point my luck shifts, the blessings drain, and I start building from the bottom again.
UPDATE: I carefully considered deleting this post because I think for some it comes off as bragging. I guess I’m still working on the balance between somehow expressing gratitude and gloating. Thanks to everyone for your patience as I gracelessly try to figure it out. If anyone has any advice on how to deal with the issue, email me privately. Thanks.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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KITTENFACE
June 16th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Must be nice being rich.
Ariel
June 16th, 2006 at 8:53 am
It’s all relative, Kittenface. Compared to the years of low income freelance writing, being middle class feels pretty damn good!
helenjane
June 16th, 2006 at 10:03 am
AWESOME!
This post makes me so happy!
Go Ariel!
mark
June 16th, 2006 at 10:20 am
Sure, there will be ups and downs, but Ariel this isn’t “luck” and it’s not gonna all drain away. Very woo-woo, but I find myself increasingly feeling this way: If you embrace and are generous to the Universe, it comes back to you (and vice versa). I don’t think you’re “lucky” I think you’re wonderfully reaping what you’ve been sowing across your lifetime. May it last much much longer!
saucygirl
June 16th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
blogging instead of dancing? I missed you this am… looks like your trip was great!
xo sg
Ariel
June 16th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
I have to work today, to make up for taking Monday off for my trip to LA. :But next Friday I will there!
Vera
June 16th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
It’s so true. Last night in bed I thought about all the things from the day that I was thankful for. And today I had one of the best days ever.
catina jane
June 17th, 2006 at 11:34 am
give and it will be given to ya!!
amen sistah!
Sarah B.
June 18th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
I think you are just lovely as can be, in and out.
lily
June 19th, 2006 at 8:12 am
YAY! STAY W/ ME AT JOBSTER PLEASE!
i’m so excited for you i could pee.
brittney
June 19th, 2006 at 8:27 am
This is inspiring. Thank you Ariel.
amy.leblanc
June 19th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
didn’t come off to be as braggish at all…. just a shining positive example of that thing, you know, what it called? oh yeah…karma.
i find that any time in american culture when someone brings up their income level, it ticks those who are less fortunate off and they then resort to calling you a braggart instead of being happy for you. jealousy is a very destructive emotion. you did nothing to provoke that first comment.
xaotica
June 24th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
when i post in my blog about being sad, i tend to get a bunch of responses indicating that no one really wants to hear about it. apparently they don’t want to hear about people’s joy either. no emotions allowed!
i’m really struggling with life right now and am generally pretty morose. that said, i like reading stories from you talking about how well things are going. it gives me hope. i don’t really understand why it would offend or irritate people.