By Joanna Campbell Slan
Author’s Note: For every story, there’s a backstory, that little-known information that explains the present. I think this is one is particularly appropriate for Friday the 13th!
Growing up in Vincennes, Indiana, there wasn’t much to do on lazy summer days. My mother taught ballet in our home, and that meant staying out of the house during the long class hours on weekends. “Occupy yourself,” she’d say. So I did.
I found myself drawn to a clover patch in a neighbor’s yard. For hours I would sit, search for four-leaf clovers, and dream about the day I’d escape my tiny hometown. That would take planning and good luck. Needless to say, finding that elusive lucky talisman proved more difficult than I’d imagined. But one day, everything changed — because I had a brainstorm.
Logically, a four-leaf clover should stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. After all, it’s an anomaly. Rather than stare at all the three-leaf clovers, I needed to change my focus and try to find the one clover that was DIFFERENT.
Since then, I’ve become a whiz at finding four-leaf clovers. In fact, I can glance down while walking and see one.
Here…try it yourself. Which of these clovers are DIFFERENT?
I’m convinced that changing your luck is largely a matter of changing focus. Too often we bang our heads against an imaginary wall rather than step back, assess the situation, find where to apply leverage, and proceed. We put all our energy into the wrong actions, rather than pausing, reflecting, and regrouping.
Over the years, I’ve collected a lot of four-leaf clovers, and I’m happy to share them. But first, you'll need to comment on this blog post. I'll pick a lucky commenter and send her/him one of my good luck charms.
Another key to good luck is being open to opportunities. Each month I send out a newsletter with all sorts of cool stuff. You'll always find “Deals and Steals,” bargain-priced books, including at least one of my reads that’s absolutely free. You can sign up for my newsletter at my website: http://www.JoannaSlan.com
This weekend (1/13 and 1/14 only) you can get “Kiki Lowenstein and the Good Luck Charm” at no cost from Amazon. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/Lowenstein-Lucky-Charm-Scrap-N-Craft-Mystery-ebook/dp/B007IUYY7K/
Or click on this OFFER.
May good luck be with you!
I will have to try that. I can NEVER find them although I have pretty good luck at other things. Now that there's 3 feet of snow I want to run out and find one, lol!!!
Posted by: Vicki Hancock | January 13, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Refocusing is something I have to do in my job daily. Sometimes not the easiest task but I'll continue to think of this post in the future. My birthday is today, Friday the 13. It's a good day.
Posted by: Missy Starliper | January 13, 2017 at 10:32 AM
As soon as I read your email about this blog, I thought it was a sign. Lol. I'm a superstitious person. My grandparents raised me from birth and my "dad" had an eye for finding 4 leaf clovers. He made a good luck charm using a clover that I kept in my wallet from the time I was 10 to this past Christmas Eve when someone stole my purse. I am still raw with anger that I lost something so meaningful. Reading this blog made me feel really good cause you "have the eye" my dad did. Lol Thank you
Posted by: Terri Wilhelm | January 13, 2017 at 10:37 AM
I'm in refocus mode now. I had hoped to be in Library school this semester, but that didn't work out as planned. So, time to suck it up and go to plan B!
Posted by: SHELLI KING | January 13, 2017 at 10:37 AM
I can spot a typo a mile away, but cannot for the life of me find a four-leaf clover.
I love your perspective of stepping back and looking at thongs differently. We get stuck,don't we?
Posted by: Pat Werths | January 13, 2017 at 10:38 AM
I was born on Oct. 13th. But it wasn't a Friday. Have a friend whose son always finds 4 leaf clovers while the rest of the family doesn't have any luck finding them.
Posted by: Karen Hollingsworth | January 13, 2017 at 10:38 AM
I especially notice typos AFTER pisting! THINGS, not thongs.
Posted by: Pat Werths | January 13, 2017 at 10:39 AM
Ok, for goodness sake! Posting.
Posted by: Pat Werths | January 13, 2017 at 10:40 AM
I do not believe in luck or coincidences...everything happens for a reason.
Posted by: Jan | January 13, 2017 at 10:40 AM
If my name is chosen from the lucky hat, please give it to Terri Wilhelm - I would love for her to semi-replace such an important memento. It would add to her story :)
Pat Werths - thank you for the giggles!!
Posted by: Mary Lou Hoffman | January 13, 2017 at 10:48 AM
I never did find one. With my luck if I got down to look now, I could not get up again, I like the idea of changing focus. Changing how you look at things may mean finding gems among those you see everyday
Posted by: Helen | January 13, 2017 at 10:50 AM
I'm one of those who has never been able to find a four leaf clover. When we were little, we would look for them and occasionally one of my friends would always find that special clover.
Posted by: Sara R. | January 13, 2017 at 10:55 AM
I so agree with you about luck as it seems as I get older and relax and let my mind not focus on the negative but only the positive my luck has opened up so much more ~
Posted by: Bobbi Hardy | January 13, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Me too, if you do pick my name please send it to Terri Wilhelm, May it bring her luck. Pat Werths you're too funny!
Posted by: AnneL | January 13, 2017 at 11:34 AM
I so love 4-leaf clovers. I can remember looking for them with our daughter and she always found them!!
Looking at life from a different perspective has always given me the benefit of taking a pause and rethinking the situation! Great opportunity!
Posted by: Stephanie Koenig | January 13, 2017 at 11:40 AM
I loved spotting four-leaf clovers, too, and would give them as gifts when I was a kid. Congratulations on your new book.
Posted by: Elaine Viets | January 13, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Brilliant, Joanna. I cannot wait to try this.
And Bobbi, I so agree! Letting your mind open to the good possibilities is so life-changing!
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 13, 2017 at 01:10 PM
I'm joining the Terri club, and a pox on that purse thief! My friend's husband always found the 4-leafed clovers, and said that finding one led to more, as they are joined by a common stem. I haven't tested that.
Refocusing is a constant part of teaching, since students, unlike those awful NCLB tests, are not standardized.
Once when in doldrums I watched a friend's friend on Jeopardy, as moral support, and the answer came in a quote "Make your goal something you can control." I got busy on some new goals. <3
Posted by: Storyteller Mary | January 13, 2017 at 02:00 PM
Friday the 13th have always been good or lucky days for me. I also have a daughter born on Saint Patricks day. I am definitely a four leaf clover person wver since elementary school when I would look for 4 leaf clovers in the school grass field.
Posted by: Jan Covey | January 13, 2017 at 02:15 PM
I have only managed to find one four leaf clover, and that was many many years ago. I still love keeping an eye out for them, even if I haven't had any more luck finding them lately.
Posted by: Renee C. | January 13, 2017 at 03:56 PM
My family and I definitely need a dramatic positive improvement in our luck or lack there of. Trying to find a positive in every day.
Posted by: Joanne Kocourek | January 13, 2017 at 07:22 PM
Just so y'all know, I wrote a wonderful response while sitting in a Cracker Barrel, outside of Vero Beach, but...typepad would NOT allow me access! While I was fighting with the gods of typepad, a firetruck pulled up and I decided it was my cue to leave! (Before my luck ran out.)
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:46 PM
Vicki, I doubt that you can find a four-leafer in the snow. If you do, let me know.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:48 PM
Missy, happy birthday! Email me with your mailing address at [email protected] and I'll send you a four-leaf clover.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:48 PM
Terri, email me at [email protected] with a mailing address. I can't replace the clover your dad found for you, but I'll send you another. How about a five-leafer? (Remind me, because I do have them.)
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:50 PM
Shelli, you are being diverted. There must be something WONDERFUL waiting for you that you'd never have seen/experienced if you went to library school as planned. Count on it.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:51 PM
Pat, I know-tice thongs, too, and I get pisted. I always know-tice them two late. (Ha-ha!)
Those same keen eyes can spot four-leaf clovers. Trust me.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:53 PM
Karen, I hope you ask your friend's son what his secret is. Maybe there's another way to find four-leafers. Hmmm?
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:54 PM
Jan, I do believe that everything happens for a reason, but...not always for the reason we THINK it's happening.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:56 PM
Mary Lou, you don't need a four-leaf clover. You have a heart of gold. That's your lucky charm.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:57 PM
Helen, we need to see each other as the gems we truly are. Even if we're only diamonds in the rough.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:58 PM
Sara R., a four-leaf clover appears approximately once in every 10,000 clovers. Maybe you just needed to move to another patch?
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 07:59 PM
Bobbi, as I get older, I remember a friend who taught me to think in terms of QTL (quality time left). I don't have time to waste being annoyed, angry or unhappy. I can tell you feel the same.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:01 PM
AnneL, another woman with a heart of gold. Gosh, this post seems to have drawn a lot of kindred spirits to the forefront.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:02 PM
Stephanie, I taught one of my nieces to find four-leafers. She's a whiz at it now. Your post reminded me of that afternoon. Thank you for being a blessing to me.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:03 PM
Elaine, if I find one and someone is nearby, I give it away because it wasn't meant for me to keep, only to find and pass along.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:04 PM
Hank, I eagerly await a report on how this works for you!
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:05 PM
Storyteller Mary, I love that! The Terri club! Woohoo!!!
I don't think your friend was right about the same stem, but...often the aberration that caused that extra left is in the plant itself, and if you follow the stem back to its crown, you'll find a whole group of four-leafers.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:08 PM
Jan Covey, did you know that St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover to teach the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost)? I have an aunt who was born on St. Patrick's Day!
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:11 PM
Renee, maybe all you needed was one, eh? And you were generous enough to leave the rest for others?
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:11 PM
Joanne K, email me at [email protected] and I'll mail you a four-leaf clover. At the very least, perhaps it will change your focus. Meanwhile, I'll include you and yours in my prayers.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:14 PM
Storyteller Mary, you won! Send me your postal address and I'll send you a four-leaf clover. Email me at [email protected] (To arrive at your name as the winner, I used a random number generator.)
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 13, 2017 at 08:16 PM
Changing the way you look at things can be a difficult task..I constantly have to remind myself to stop and rethink. I have never found a four leaf clover!
Posted by: Vickie Williams | January 14, 2017 at 09:02 AM
Thank you for sharing the book! I am a big kiki fan!Also I need the reading and the food luck for my open heart surgery!
Posted by: Dawn currier | January 14, 2017 at 12:24 PM
Vickie, you are right that it's difficult. A friend of mine who is a doctor says that the average person can't change his/her habits even if it's a matter of life and death!
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 14, 2017 at 03:56 PM
Dawn, drop me an email at [email protected] and I'll send you a four-leaf clover. You already have my prayers and good wishes for your surgery.
Posted by: Joanna Campbell Slan | January 14, 2017 at 03:57 PM
Very clever! I hadn't thought of that. I've never believed in the luck or unluckiness of the number 13. Just a number to me but a four leaf clover would certainly be a find!
Posted by: Sandy Bach | January 16, 2017 at 05:14 PM
Sandy, I think I specialize in seeing things differently. At least, I try to.
Posted by: Joanna Slan | January 17, 2017 at 10:35 AM