I don't consider myself a superstitious person, but I learned today I was practicing one superstition wrong for many years.
I pick up pennies and other coins from the ground whenever I come across them, for good luck. It's something I've done for so long I can't remember when I started the habit. I'm not a big believer in luck, and I am not a follower of superstitious thought. I avoid walking under ladders, but that's just good sense. I don't throw salt over my shoulder, and I am not afraid of black cats.
I came across a penny this morning at work, and bent over to pick it up. A coworker stopped me and asked if the coin was facing "heads" up or was I seeing the "tail"? I took a closer look and reported seeing the tail. My coworker insisted I leave the coin on the floor and walk away from it. I should only pick up coins when the "head" was facing up, he advised. "Those are the lucky ones," he assured me.
I had not heard his version of lucky coins before, but didn't challenge it. My immediate thought was he might be right. My lucky cup hasn't been overflowing with good fortune, I thought, even though I have picked up coins of all types for decades.
The more I thought about my friend's view of lucky coins, the more I realized that my fortune has been pretty good over the years. And the more I thought about, the more I realized how truly blessed, not lucky, I've been.
I've been blessed with good health most of my years. I enjoy safe shelter, I am surrounded by people I love and admire, and I have plenty to eat. I enjoy many common comforts, and the people I love enjoy good health. I'm doing pretty well, by most standards. Yes, many are doing much better based upon society's measurements, but a great many more are not as well off as me.
I give thanks for each of my many blessings, and I will continue to pick up coins without worrying which side is facing up.
These are the things I ponder as I travel a westward road.
—Thank you for reading. Please email questions and comments to kbotterman@hotmail.com.
