Once or twice a month the four of us pile into our mini-van and head to CostCo on an afternoon quest to binge on household essentials. CostCo, like any other big box outlet selling salad dressing by the drum, is permanently overpopulated. Though I have always enjoyed our trips to CostCo once inside, I used to loathe pulling into the lot, knowing full well I would have to wage a small war to win the luxury of a decent parking space.
I’m not the type of guy willing to spend ten minutes circling for a space when I can park in an outlying section, walk a few hundred yards, and get inside while the people who pulled in behind me are still driving laps at 5 MPH. The problem with this particular CostCo is that the lot is neatly divided into two sections: teeming with tons of metal or barren wasteland. The barren wasteland is situated on the far side of a violent fault line of broken concrete and a heavy flow of incoming and outgoing traffic – not a lot of fun to cross with a cart, children or both.
Last year I stumbled upon something remarkable, and have since considered it a fine example of the Law of Attraction in motion. The problem with the Secret, and the Law of Attraction in general, is that many people assign it a magic that simply doesn’t exist.
For the last year, I have always found a parking spot in the first row, a dozen yards from the entrance. This is, by far, the most coveted row of spaces in the entire lot, and yet in our last two dozen trips to CostCo, there has only been a single instance when the row was filled and I had to park on the other side of the divide. Perhaps this is because people expect the row to be filled; it is difficult after all to believe it could be so easy. Yet every time, almost without fail, I swing to the front row and quickly claim my space. Sometimes I even have a couple to choose from.
I assume the best, hope that I’m right, and am perfectly content to circle around if not.
The law of attraction is about putting it out there and taking your shot, not about expecting wonder to rain from the sky.
About Sean Platt
Yeah, this works for me too. I’ve got a space that I’ve designated as mine. It’s right outside the door and most of the time it’s vacant. I don’t really think it’s any more than good fortune but I do go out looking for the good fortune.
The Secret is just a load of mumbo jumbo claptrap. I’d like to put it more strongly than that and perhaps have a pop at religion while I’m at it, but this is a family blog and I respect other people’s right to believe in woowoo magic powers and imaginary friends. That is all.
.-= George Roper´s last blog ..Eating Sawdust Is Not Big And It’s Not Clever =-.
Ah George, I couldn’t agree more – mumbo jumbo claptrap it is. It doesn’t mean there isn’t some value in hoping for the best and believing it will happen, but putting all your eggs in a magical basket is setting yourself up for an eventual welfare check or a helluva lot of disappointment.
Yeah, this works for me too. I’ve got a space that I’ve designated as mine. It’s right outside the door and most of the time it’s vacant. I don’t really think it’s any more than good fortune but I do go out looking for the good fortune.
The Secret is just a load of mumbo jumbo claptrap. I’d like to put it more strongly than that and perhaps have a pop at religion while I’m at it, but this is a family blog and I respect other people’s right to believe in woowoo magic powers and imaginary friends. That is all.
.-= George Roper´s last blog ..Eating Sawdust Is Not Big And It’s Not Clever =-.
Ah George, I couldn’t agree more – mumbo jumbo claptrap it is. It doesn’t mean there isn’t some value in hoping for the best and believing it will happen, but putting all your eggs in a magical basket is setting yourself up for an eventual welfare check or a helluva lot of disappointment.
HAHAHA that is really funny, because that is EXACTLY where i park. I have always parked in that first row, but a while back, half of the row used to be handicapped parking and people got used to that . People do not pay attention or notice changes. Earlier this year they relocated all the handicapped spots to right directly in front of the door. Now all the other spots are fair game and i always cruise right in (well, sometimes i have to circle once or twice). Anyway, as for the law of attraction, I have always maintained that I have a parking angel ….you have heard me refer to this often and always scoffed. No matter where I go, I can say, c’mon, parking angel, give me a good one….and zoooop, a car will pull right out from a primo spot and it is mine! scoff away, it works for me!! (love ya, mom)
Yeah, but the difference between us is that if you’ll keep circling until your parking angel delivers. Me, I’d rather just cut to the chase and get my churro!
HAHAHA that is really funny, because that is EXACTLY where i park. I have always parked in that first row, but a while back, half of the row used to be handicapped parking and people got used to that . People do not pay attention or notice changes. Earlier this year they relocated all the handicapped spots to right directly in front of the door. Now all the other spots are fair game and i always cruise right in (well, sometimes i have to circle once or twice). Anyway, as for the law of attraction, I have always maintained that I have a parking angel ….you have heard me refer to this often and always scoffed. No matter where I go, I can say, c’mon, parking angel, give me a good one….and zoooop, a car will pull right out from a primo spot and it is mine! scoff away, it works for me!! (love ya, mom)
Yeah, but the difference between us is that if you’ll keep circling until your parking angel delivers. Me, I’d rather just cut to the chase and get my churro!
Hi Sean,
Right on the money. It’s about being proactive and having the right attitude. It’s not about wishing and sitting back.
George
Two Georges within 10 minutes! Is this a sign of the Apocalypse?!? LOL. Seriously though, well said. It’s all about attitude – not magic beans. A good attitude will grant you a lot of latitude in life, but waiting for things to simply “happen” because you are sending out good vibes is, in my opinion, rather dim.
The Apocalypse is some ancient building in Athens isn’t it?
.-= George Roper´s last blog ..Eating Sawdust Is Not Big And It’s Not Clever =-.
I’ve been trying to think of a clever response to this for two days. I’ve got nothing.
Must be something in the air. My husband and I have been having the same wonderful luck lately. It’s perfect since he hates to walk.
.-= Theresa Rose´s last blog ..When it rains… =-.
I don’t mind the walk, it’s the circling I can’t stand! I think of it as minutes circling the drain while I’m sitting in the car being lazy. : > )
Must be something in the air. My husband and I have been having the same wonderful luck lately. It’s perfect since he hates to walk.
.-= Theresa Rose´s last blog ..When it rains… =-.
I don’t mind the walk, it’s the circling I can’t stand! I think of it as minutes circling the drain while I’m sitting in the car being lazy. : > )
Hi Sean,
Right on the money. It's about being proactive and having the right attitude. It's not about wishing and sitting back.
George
Two Georges within 10 minutes! Is this a sign of the Apocalypse?!? LOL. Seriously though, well said. It’s all about attitude – not magic beans. A good attitude will grant you a lot of latitude in life, but waiting for things to simply “happen” because you are sending out good vibes is, in my opinion, rather dim.
The Apocalypse is some ancient building in Athens isn’t it?
.-= George Roper´s last blog ..Eating Sawdust Is Not Big And It’s Not Clever =-.
I’ve been trying to think of a clever response to this for two days. I’ve got nothing.