Mind Over Monkey Bars

By Atom Bergstrom

Atom’s Blog

I liked to drive from the little beach town where I lived and worked to the big city in the middle of the night.

Where did I go? I bought magazines and books at an all-night newsstand at Hollywood and Vine, 186 miles round trip from Carpinteria, California.

I showed up about 2:00 a.m., and browsed to the sounds of cool jazz till 5:00 a.m., heading home just before the Los Angeles traffic started.

But one morning, nearing home with the Sun shining behind me, I wished, “I wish there was a newsstand closer to home.”

<>

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

My first errand was at the bank — always a nice place to visit.

I was six minutes early, so I thought, “There must be a reason the bank’s not open yet. I’m going to sit down on the front step and meditate.”

And I did.

Six minutes later I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a sign across the street …

Bill’s Novels & News.

“Wow!” I thought, and ran across the street (Casitas Pass Road).

<>

I sped through the door and asked the guy behind the counter, “How long have you been open?”

“Thirty minutes,” said Bill.

“No, not this morning. How long has this store been here?”

“Thirty minutes. I just opened this morning.

<>

I thought to myself, “If I can manifest a newsstand, then I can manifest monkey bars and rings at the end of Linden Street. I don’t want to work out inside the gym anymore. I want to exercise outside at the beach in the sunshine.”

My favorite place to swim was at “The World’s Safest Beach” at the end of Linden Street.

The gym was several doors down from Bill’s Novels & News.

<>

I did my banking and opened Scandia Health Food Store (1108 Casitas Pass Road).

I managed Scandia and was its only employee. The owner lived in Los Angeles.

A customer, who also worked out with me at the gym across the street said, “The gym’s going out of business, and they’re giving refunds. You better go get your money back.”

“Wow!” This time I said it aloud. “I decided to quit today. This is perfect timing!”

My refund was for half of my one-year membership.

<>

Seven months later, the Parks Department finished installing chin-up bars, parallel bars, and rings at the end of Linden — exactly behind the area where I sunned and swam.

According to Adano Ley (Swami Nitty-Gritty) …

“The timing of the daily events of your life is the proof that Creative Consciousness is directing your existence.”
.
.