Strong Thoughts

““I’m a money magnet” that’s what I wrote in my little black book… my Book of Thoughts is what I decided to call it.” Liza glanced up at Ms. Robertson, her 4th grade teacher. “I heard my daddy’s UTube saying this last night... he likes to listen to meditation and laws of attraction… manifestation stuff. I don’t know a lot about it but he always tells me to be positive and think about what I want.... so I wrote it too. Is that right.. is this ok to write in this little black book?”

Ms. Robertson looked at Liza with a chuckle, “Yes! The assignment was for everyone to take one little black book and use it for something of your choosing as long as you write in it at least once everyday. That was a great way to start off! Who else would like to share? Remember, you don’t have to share if you decide to use your book as a diary or something just for you. Just simply and quickly show me that you wrote something for the night and you’ll get credit.”

The rest of the class shared their entries..or not…and before you know it, it was the end of language arts class.

Liza and her friend Junie headed for the cafeteria to eat lunch, “I really liked what Jenny wrote about... how she was making ice cream with her mom last night. I think I’m going to ask my mom to buy me an ice cream maker too!”

“You’ll probably get it, Junie.. you get everything else” Liza thought to herself.

“And Liza what kinda money you trying to get? Since you wrote “I’m a money magnet.” What do you wanna buy!?” Junie asked Liza jokingly.

“Well I’m not sure... maybe a pony,” Liza answers, secretly thinking about what she would really like to do; she’d love to help her parents buy a house. A lot to think about for a 9 year old, but ever since Liza’s dad got laid off, her mom has been working long hours and daddy was trying to find new work but it just wasn’t so easy. Liza’s parents been saying for years that they want to buy a house... “rent is such a waste... just need that down payment!” Daddy would always say. And when he got laid off... the buying a house idea faded quite a bit. Liza figured... with 2 thoughts thinking about money, the family is bound to stumble upon some money soon!

After school Liza sat and thought about what to write in her little Black Book of Thoughts for the night. “Day 1 already says “I’m a money magnet” I’ll wait until I hear daddy’s UTube tonight to see what exactly it says,” Liza thought to herself.

That night before bed, Liza listened. Over the whirr of Liza’s oscillating fan, she heard Daddys nightly UTube come on. It said, “I live in abundance” and “I have everything I need and want”. She couldn’t quite decide on what phrase to choose so she wrote both and filled the page with those words. Hey, thinking and writing it a bunch of times has to mean something, right!

The next day the weirdest, most peculiar, outright random thing happened. School closed! They announced on WXI News that the school district decided to give students the day off since they didn’t use any snow days this past winter. “What! Weird.... But I’ll take it!” Liza shouted after her mom told her the news that morning. When Liza finished her No-School-Happy-Dance she thought of something she and mommy could do since it was Mommy’s day off. “Why don’t we go to the park?”

“Since we have all this time on our hands let’s do that and let’s make pancakes!” Mommy knows pancakes are Liza’s favorite thing to eat. After pancakes, Mommy and Liza got in the car to go to Peachtree Park. It’s a little further from the one around the corner but this one has more walking trails and mommy and Liza loved to walk. Liza took her little Black Book Of Thoughts with her just in case!

They arrived at the park and headed to the 2 mile long trail. “Ready?” Momma asked.

“Psshhh, I’m always ready,” Liza said. They began walking, admiring the birds, butterflies, and ladybugs fly by.

“It’s So peaceful, I forget all of my worries out here!” mommy said.

Liza shouted, “Wait! I gotta write that down in my little Black Book Of Thoughts!” Liza explained what her teacher said the book is for and proceeded to write “forget worries” in the book. As they walked, Liza noticed something sticking out of a tree hole. Was it an animal? Mommy and Liza drew nearer to the tree and it wasn’t an animal at all... it was a black bag. With a note that read “to one lucky person of Peachtree Park”. Liza doesn’t usually go touching things, but this seemed different and something about it seemed okay. Liza pulled the bag out and it plopped down on the ground. Liza slowly unzipped the bag. Her eyes grew big and a smile ran across her face.

Mommy must’ve noticed Liza’s beaming face,“What! What is it?! What’s that face for?” Mommy asked excitedly.

“Your not going to believe this!” Liza said as she pulled out one stack after another of $1000 bundles and a note that read “This is not too good to be true. This is real! You can even check with your local police department. I hid three of these bags around town for 3 lucky neighbors to find! I hope this helps you and you family!” Mommy and Liza felt as awkward as they could because they read the words but it couldn’t be rea, right!? Mommy called the police department and explained everything and sure enough they knew exactly what it was and assured mommy that there was 3 anonymous donations made and Peachtree Park was one of the locations! Liza and mommy jumped and hollered then ran back to the car in sheer bliss.

“What are you going to do, Liza!? You found the bag!” Mommy asked.

“Really, you want me to choose?” Liza asked.

“Yes! I wouldn’t have even noticed it!”

Liza already knew what she wanted. She pulled out her little Black Book Of Thoughts and showed mommy her first two pages. “I’m a money magnet”, “I live in abundance” “I have everything I need and want” Then told her, “I want to give it to you and daddy for a down payment on a house!”

“Oh my gosh, Liza, really!? No, you don’t have to do that... I thought you were going to say a pony or something.”

Liza laughed.

“No, Mommy, I’ve been hoping for something like this ever since Daddy got laid off… I didn’t know it would really happen but I’ve been listening to Daddy’s UTubes and I started writing them down for school... and look! I can’t wait to show Daddy tonight! Please keep it a secret I want to tell Daddy when he’s listening to the UTubes!”

Mommy and Liza went home and tried to look as normal as possible.. sneaking telekinetic smirks across the room. Mommy prepared dinner just as she would any other night when she’s off from work. Liza went to do her homework. Liza, Mommy, and Daddy ate dinner, had a chat about Liza’s brother, who went away for college this year, then Daddy announced he was going to go meditate . Mommy and Liza looked at one another and Liza ran to the car to get the bag.

Liza could hear “I’m a money magnet, I live in abundance, I have everything I need and want” coming from the tv in Mommy and Daddy’s room. She knocked with her fingers trembling from excitement. Hey Daddy, you’re a money magnet right!”

Daddy laughed and said, “Well, I always watch this, Liz. Maybe one of these jobs will call me back or money might fall from the sky... you never know!” Liza showed Daddy the bag and pulled out bundle after bundle as daddy’s eyes grew big and a smile ran across his face. Daddy was astonished and in disbelief but Mommy explained everything.

Liza showed Daddy her little black book, “I guess we are money magnets! We both needed to think about it, together!”

“This is beyond great,” Daddy said. We can definitely use this for a down payment... but now I need a job to- Daddy paused as his cell phone rang.

Then the weirdest, most peculiar, outright random thing happened... Daddys old job called him back! They said they’re in a better space now and could hire him back! “This is the best day of our lives!” Liza shouted.

Fast forward a year later. Mommy and Daddy closed on their first home and they only used half of the money for the down payment, they put the rest in a savings account to save for Liza to go to college.

Remember to always be positive, and keep a little black book to write your thoughts and hopes… you never know where it might take you!