LAh-May, not Lame

Gold Lame, Gold Lame…

Every time my alarm clock went off this was the first thought that went through my head. I'm not sure why, I think my dreams involved lettuce.
Last night, I realized that my evening had turned into a real-life version of the previous postings.
While there were no giant caterpillars or secret milk police, people and opportunities randomly came out, and soon I'd be deep in a conversation with a friend who I hadn't seen in months, all because I was trying to find a BoA in Central Square.

At lunch, the 23 enigma came up, and I tried to explain it to some coworkers. During the middle of it, I realized that it's a parable in wooga-wooga. Much like Jesus' Golden Rule and Wicca's Rule of three, the 23 enigma is a lesson in resonance, i.e. if I focus on something; it comes back to me magnified.

Why do unto others as you would do unto you? Taken as a simple way to behave in society. It's not such a firm idea. People might not wish to be treated the same way you do. What would happen if a masochist slapped you every time you saw him/her? How long would a Nymphomaniac be allowed in society if he/she tried to have sex with everything that lived?
These are crude and extreme examples, but illustrate the problem. However, by focusing on the way I wish to be treated, I can notice more clearly when that happens. Some might even argue (I'm looking at you, Wiccans) that what I do is given back to me in a greater amount than I give it. The 23 Enigma creates a bridge between these two trains of thought.

The 23E approaches this phenomenon as more of a psychiatry issue. If one focuses on anything, the number 23 or simply red cars, one will naturally notice when they appear, which will lead to more focus, which will make more appearances – not that there will actually be more 23s or red cars around, it will simply seem like it. However, this is where the existentialists (or anybody who loves the matrix) would jump in and state that since reality is simply one's personal experiences and truths, then actually there ARE more 23s and Red cars there.

So, are people actually treating me more in the way that I wish to be treated, or am I simply ignoring when it's not happening and focusing in on when it is? For me, the answer is "Yes."

Waffles!