These Have Always Brought Me Luck: Jenna’s Special New Year Letter

Hey y’all,

While we just love to give away lots of cool stuff here at MRT, we also want everyone to know that it’s because we just want to bring some much needed happiness in a world full of negativity and neverending buzz. In a tech world that’s constantly running away from itself with overkill news, we just want our friends to be able to sit back, slow down and enjoy what our little non-profit site brings. You know, relax with one of Tony’s Yale-esque snore pieces; smirk at Big Bill’s freakishly childlike regressions; poke fun at Eddie’s I’m-better-than-you coverage videos; laugh at a few of Brittney’s ridiculously quirky posts; test their caffeine against Foster’s sometimes-sleep-inducing-reviews; contemplate the afterlife along with Nate’s seriously psychological reflections; and perhaps win some cool stuff from the uber cool, generous and super-humble Jenna! (It’s my article and I’ll glorify if I want to! Hahaha!)

Bring on the eye-rollers and haters!

OK, OK. Enough of that crazy talk shall we?  Onto something more serious.  So everyone always asks how I came to be so lucky. Me? Lucky? Whatever gave you that impression? Ha! First of all, I’m no luckier than most of you. I just recognize and appreciate the things in my life that make it worthwhile. The love that comes from family & friends is the true luck for me. Then there’s positive thinking. You’ll be surprised what a positive mind and a happy smile can do for your existence. While I wish I had a better answer than hard work, discipline & determination… there are a few things I do stand by, such as doing good for others and the whole Karma deal. However, there are a few rituals I do in fact practice. Some unorthodox, others downright kooky. In fact, Tony will probably be the first to tell you just how crazy my repertoire of weird rituals are. LOL.

Anyway, now that New Year is coming, here are a few things I’ve learned from my studies in the Far East over the years. Can’t say for sure if they work. All I know (and that’s enough for me) is that these have always brought me luck

Pretty centerpiece? Or lucky magnet?

1. Collect as many “round-type” fruits as you possibly can and arrange them in a nice basket on your dining table. The ancient Buddhists believe this to be a very lucky magnet! 13 is the lucky number but I’ve always had a hard time finding 13 round fruits, so it doesn’t have to necessarily be round. Just round-ish. Or in my case, just fruits. LOL.

This year, I made it a point to make a trip to the supermarket despite the crazy blizzard we got. I managed to pick up some avocados, a cantaloupe, a honeydew melon, a mini watermelon, green & red grapes, a pineapple, some anjou pears, Granny Smith apples, Red Delicious apples, strawberries, kiwis, some oranges, a papaya and a mango. I know that’s way over 13 but hey, the more the merrier. In fact, I even threw in a lemon & a lime in my arrangement. Now, you don’t have to use all your fruits. Just one of each is needed for representation. Use your imagination and fruit-arranging talents. At the very least, you’ll have a delightful centerpiece and zero excuses not to start your year off with lots of healthy fruit!

Even loose change adds up to a fortune!

2. Take a bunch of shiny coins (I like quarters & dimes) and line the walkway to your front door. If you have front steps, put a few on each step leading up to your front door, then place the most coins right at your front door. Also line your window sills with coins. Huge advantage: this is a lot easier to do than the fruits. What does this mean? The ancient Chinese believe that this will lead prosperity to your door! Then, I like to collect the coins on the 2nd or 3rd of January, place them in a container and hide them in the center of my home. Once again, I have no scientific proof this works better than hard work, but hey, you never know!

Nothing like the light to start the day fresh

3. Open all blinds and shades! Yes, this is important. Not only is this Eastern, but the ancient Incas, Aztecs, Mayans & Egyptians also believed that the first light of day is the light of good luck. The luckiest? New Year’s morning! This is something I actually do every day. I also crack open all the windows on the 1st to let the fresh new air in and sweep the whole house with a new breath. Symbolic, yet surprisingly sanitary!

A little green goes a long way.

4. If you’re a bit low on the home greenery, now would be the time to go all out. A home with thriving life is a home with lots of Feng Shui goodness. I actually have a few bonsai plants scattered around that I tend to all year. I also have some lucky ferns and hanging plants that I water once every few days. Potted plants not only absorb the toxins in your home, they actually give off a good dose of oxygen. Ever wonder why a house with lots of plants just smells… fresher? Well, there you go! 

Water fixtures help maintain harmony

Extra tip: if you’re not lucky enough to have a built in fountain in your home, try buying one of those plug in whimsical water fountains from Bed Bath & Beyond. Not only is the constant trickling of the water soothing to hear, Feng Shui emphasizes that a home with running water guides the flow of energy throughout the house.

Can you tell I love to laugh? It's the positive in life!

5. This is probably the most important to me. Ever wonder where New Year’s resolutions come from? Well, the ancient Muslims believed that what you do on the New Year will set the tone for your entire year. So it’s important to be mindful of your mood and what you do. A lazy body on New Year’s is a lazy body throughout. So be nice, respectful, considerate and loving. Don’t get angry and fight with someone. Stay away from the TV and video games. Me, I cook something (probably explains why I cook almost everyday throughout the year)… I also take 30 minutes or so to clean up a bit. Perhaps vacuum, sweep, dust, change the sheets, etc. I even turn on the BOSE and sing along while busting a move or two. LOL. Then I try to remove any personal feelings of jealousy and ambition and replace it with gratitude and humility. I also get along with everyone I love and am even affectionate whenever possible. Lots of kisses, lots of hugs and encouragement, lots of I love yous. I haven’t always been guaranteed a positive 364 days, but it sure helps! Remember, EVERYTHING you do, feel and act will be the way you are all year. So for crying out loud, take a good shower!

So there you go, because I love you, I wanted to share a few of my Jenna-secrets. I’ve got a lot more but I’m not about to bust out the Koi fish, Voodoo rocks and full Wiccan arsenal. Haha. Like I said before, I can’t say for sure anything will replace hard work, determination, discipline, compassion and humility… but these little rituals, as far as I know, have always brought me a bit of luck. Of course, it could all just be kooky superstition, but I swear to you, every time someone tells me they appreciate me for being in their life… when I sit back and enjoy a fantastic chef special; when my stocks go up; when I hear the words “I love you” from someone dear; or when I’m simply looking at another sparkly row of gems on my wrist or a shiny new phone in my hand… I can’t help but think those fruits may be on to something. LOL.

Happy, Lucky New Year Everyone!

I love you,

Jenna