When I was a child, my grandmother passed on the superstition to me that “everything happens in threes”. Sometimes this lead to fearful anticipation. If something really bad happened, it gave me the idea that there was more to come, but there was also a feeling of great relief when the third of a frightful situation or sequence occurred. You could breathe a deep sigh of relief that the worst of all of it was over.
This idea of occurrences happening in threes comes from the Latin “omne trium perfectum” which means everything that comes in threes is perfect, or everything that happens in threes is complete. Scientists say that we have a tendency to group and categorize things that are actually unrelated. They call this “apophenia”. I personally like my superstitions. They give me a sense of comfort and control. I always feel like I can handle three. Three gives me a beginning, a middle and a definitive finale. Most lessons can be fully understood and incorporated, after three experiences or teachings.
A lot of good things happen in threes, too. Three is many people’s “lucky number”. I purchased a gorgeous coaster depicting three koi fish from a quaint gift shop a couple of days ago. I love it and I have always considered three koi fish to be a fortuitous symbol. I am sitting here, peacefully writing, as I gaze out of the window, looking at a gorgeous, green valley, sitting calmly next to a clear, flowing river, with a majestic mountain top in the background. My three loyal dogs are at my feet. Morning, noon, and night, my life flows on.
