Karma is one of those mysterious things. Either you believe in it ferociously, or you don’t.
Or, like in my case, you don’t realllllllly believe in it but you like to throw it into your vocabulary every once in a while to keep things spicy. I usually pair it with words like manifesting or good vibes. Depending on the target audience I’m around, I’ll get heavy nods of approval, or hearty laughs (because the audience is just as cynical and jaded as I am).
I’ve never truly believed in karma.
Until now.
I was wrapping things up with my cover artist. It was a smooth experience for the most part, and I was eager to finish the process so I could continue forward with the next scheduled program. We talked numbers, emails were exchanged, and invoices were provided.
I feel like I need to mention that it was very, VERY late in the night when I addressed the invoice. Like…WAY past my bedtime, late. I was comfortably hallucinating, late. I was in no proper shape to be dealing with money, late.
I opened the invoice, stared at the numbers, and thought to myself, “Yep. Gang’s all here!”
And then I saw the “TIP” button.
And as I stared at that blue button that seemed to pulsate before my bleary eyes, I was acutely aware of how quiet the house was.
My husband was sleeping, in no shape to help me crunch numbers.
My cat, with all her extra toe beans, was in no mood to perform mathematical acrobatics.
And the internet seemed MUCH TOO COMPLICATED to sort through.
So I plunked some happy little numbers in and called it a night, not thinking twice about it.
It didn’t occur to me until the next day, when I opened my email and saw “I THINK YOU’VE MADE A MISTAKE” in my inbox, that maybe, just maybe, I had, in fact, made a mistake.
I opened the email.
(Excuse my mad paraphrasing skills)
“HI THERE,” the cover artist started, “I THINK YOU’VE MADE A MISTAKE. YOU SENT ME WAY TOO MUCH MONEY. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RETURN THE EXTRA SUM??”
“GOOD MORNING!” I replied, still quite jovial and in complete denial of my lack of financial prowess. “NOT A MISTAKE! IT WAS A TIP. YOU’VE EARNED IT.”
Not even five minutes go by when I get another email. “OH GOOD GOD, THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY. THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH!!!”
Cue the stomach dropping, the mouth drying out, and the fingers shaking
“YOU ARE SO WELCOME!” I replied (with less vigor), wondering if the window of her being willing to return the money was still open or not.
The artist promised to send the files over right away. While I waited, I panic-texted my husband.
I was hoping for reassurance, that it actually wasn’t a crazy tip, but an average one.
“Yeah…that’s pretty hefty, babe,” was the response I got.
So, embarrassed, ashamed, and contemplating cutting up my credit cards, I went on with my day.
I started to get anxious when evening arrived and I still hadn’t received the files. I nearly emailed her twice, but held back, telling myself that everything was fine, totally fine. She DEFINITELY wasn't running away with both my money and my artwork.
I went to work the next day, and when I checked my email at lunchtime, I saw that she had graced my inbox.
“HI,” she said, “APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY, BUT SINCE YOU WERE SO GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIP, I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU. SO HERE IS A BOOK TRAILER THAT MY FRIEND AND I MADE FOR YOU TO USE AS A MARKETING TOOL.”
And let me tell you…
The squeal I let out…
In the middle of the break room…
Earned me a lot of concerned looks.
BUT IS THAT NOT SOME SWEET SWEET KARMA??
I had spent about 24 hours wondering how on earth I made it this far in life, stressing about how I could be so careless with my finances, when life literally swaddled me in the thickest, plushiest blanket and kissed me on the forehead for being a good little girl. And I am so here for it.
Karma is officially a mystery I have solved, and I am a firm believer.
(PS: If you are wondering who my cover artist is--it's Lexie from Selkkie Designs and I love her so much. Please go check out her website because her art is amazing!)
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