Nadia Idriss Mayen: Lady(bug) Luck

Can objects and things give us luck? I really do like to believe something special can provide me with luck. I currently have a wooden ladybug the size of a penny sitting on my desk and I tap the top for luck every morning when I start my day.

My thought is can objects give us luck because they’re shaped in a good luck charm or do we tell ourselves we will receive luck just by believing.

Everybody has their unique lucky charm either on a chain around their neck, or a ring that was passed on by a special relative and sometimes even an old coin placed deep in their pocket. I find that all things made special don’t bring us luck but make us feel complete by the reassurance of telling us we will receive luck. Can we create luck?

I learned from a friend if you find a lost coin on the ground you must pick it up and pass it on to someone else to bless that person with luck. I found it a sweet gesture. A similar thing is done with the statue of Buddha. You may not buy yourself one but receive it as a gift and rub Buddha’s belly for fortune and good luck.

I received a marzipan shaped as a pig as a gift once and was told it would bring me luck in the New Year. I wasn’t sure if I had to eat it or save it to be blessed. But let’s just say that I was blessed with a sugary treat.

Luck is what you make of it. Just make sure it’s not the edible kind.

(Nadia Idriss Mayen, Executive Producer of Web TV at Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: [e-mail])