Blue Ridge Country November/December 2021 - 8

MILL CREEK STORIES
Magic
" Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. "
By MOLLY DUGGER BRENNAN | Illustration by JOSEPH MACKERETH
W
ow. What a year it's been. Here we are at
the holiday season and the new year is
looming large. I feel like a retrospective
of 2021 is in order.
The year 2021, and 2020 as well,
taught me many things not the least of
which was not to wait for obvious good
news. It's great if you win the lottery. Actually, winning
the lottery is a large part of my retirement plan. I hope
for your sake you planned better than I did.
Winning the lottery is a super obvious slice of good
news but I have started focusing on the less obvious, almost
daily, flashes of magic and good fortune in my life.
Finding the perfect parking spot in a full lot, or checking
my jeans pockets before doing laundry and finding
a $10 bill, little things like that are what I'm looking for
now.
A friend of mine has even started keeping a magic
journal. It's like a gratitude journal but it records surprise
instances that make her life easier. For example,
she was tasked to sell her father's coin collection. She
was standing in line at a thrift store telling a friend that
she needed to find a coin expert to properly evaluate
the collection. The man in line behind her tapped her
on the shoulder and offered his services because he just
happened to be a rare coin dealer. Coincidence? Magic.
I have even altered my vocabulary to create a more
magical world for myself. I do not sweep my house, I rid
my house of ancient energy so this week can start fresh.
I do not dye my hair; I apply a magic potion that reveals
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my true self. This week my true self is sporting purple
hair which feels very authentic to me. I do not go to the
drug store for medicine, I obtain the enchanted elixirs
that help me live my best life. I'm not training my dogs;
I converse with my animals. I don't cook meals; I prepare
potions to protect my family's health. Get the idea?
I know some of you are thinking that this is all ridiculous.
Maybe it is. It keeps my heart open to the possibilities
of small wonders happening in my life and that
is most certainly not ridiculous. Slowing down and becoming
aware of tiny miracles happening every day has
become essential to my mental well-being. Even something
so small as a sparrow sitting a few feet from me
on the porch makes me feel connected to a larger, more
positive world.
If you'd like to start doing this yourself, there's no
better time to start than the holiday season. The world
conspires to create magic during these last months of
the year. Things are more sparkly, more festive, more
delicious, more loving. Take notice of what the world
is offering you in small, quiet ways and your life will
become more magical. In these times, we can use all the
magic we can get.
" And, above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole
world around you because the greatest secrets are always
hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe
in magic will never find it. " ~ Roald Dahl
I wish for you a lovely holiday season and a fabulous,
magical 2022. Thank you for supporting this column. I
appreciate each and every one of you.
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2021

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