Om Necklace Nate Bunger
“Just as that thought was going through my mind, I felt a hand grab the back of my neck. Not a good feeling on a dark street alone.”
As I walked out of my hostel and onto one of the worst streets in Panama City, the smell of piss and feces wafted in the humid air.
Men wearing clothes too dirty to see their original color, half naked indigenous kids and tired looking women, half of them prostitutes, scattered the streets. A common scene in this part of the world, but one I have become quite accustomed to.
One street can be lined with BMW’s and chic restaurants and the next can look like a scene out of “City of God”.
It was nighttime and I’ve been down this street many times before. In all of my travels, I can honestly say that I have never felt in danger.
But this time immediately something felt different. And I always knew it would happen this way.
As as I entered this particular part of the street, thoughts of getting robbed started going through my mind.
I was carrying a small backpack that contained pretty much my entire life. My laptop, passport and wallet not to mention my Ipod and Kindle book reader. Pretty much everything that, if lost, would cause my entire life to be in a serious state of recovery.
There was no one in pursuit of me when I entered the street, but nonetheless I began to feel in danger. I remember in fact looking from the corner of my eyes, trying to locate a stick or something I could grab if someone approached me.
I tried blowing off the thought however, blaming it on my over-active mind. But a few minutes later, as I approached a rather dark part of the road, I was suddenly being followed by two black men. They seemed to come out of nowhere and started walking behind me, gaining ground at an uncomfortable rate.
I kept walking, picking up my pace but still trying to remain composed.
It was like those movie scenes where the person realizes they’re being followed and they start walking faster, only to hear the person behind them pick up the pace as well. It’s enough to send your heart beat souring.
Then as if by instinct, while I was still walking, my posture straightened, my chest puffed out and my fists clenched at my sides. But, still no boards or sticks that I could see anywhere. (How’s that song go? It’s like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife!)
And just as that thought was going through my mind, I felt a hand grab the back of my neck. Not a good feeling on a dark street alone. This is part where the screechy violin sound would cue in the movie.
Almost as quick as I felt the hand on my neck, I turned around and swung my fist, yelling out “Puta Madre” (Mother fucker)only to see him jump back several steps, probably more shocked that the gringo spoke spanish. But when he realized he had a friend and I was alone, they started approaching me again.
But just as I saw them shift their bodies back towards me, I was already making my way towards a lit part of the road where some people were standing. And like cockroaches they retreated back into shadows. This all happened in a matter of seconds.
I looked down and saw that my necklace had been broken, but the chain was still hanging from my neck. The charm that I had of an “Om” symbol that I freakin loved, was gone.
A Very Strange Coincidence
The strange part of this whole thing was that earlier that day, I got an email from a friend in Chile asking me about my necklace. She had seen a photo of me wearing it, and wanted to know what it meant.
She even asked to take a picture of it and send it to her on Facebook.
I agreed and posted it on my profile for her to tag. I wrote a small description of it, and several other people began to comment.
In nearly two years of wearing this necklace I’ve never spent so much time explaining this symbol to people who seemed genuinely interested. But on the very day it get’s robbed. It was the first aggressive approach anyone has ever made towards me while living in Latin America.
I always pay attention to things like this and try to decipher the meaning. To me, this is just to much of a coincidence to be overlooked.
I accept it, and like with any loss, it’s hard to let it go. It was a hand made charm that cost me over $300. I loved it, and it no doubt felt like a part of my identity. It was sort of like losing a part of myself.
But here is what it taught me…
Lessons On Intuition
It’s interesting to note that the symbol of Om coincidentally has a lot of meanings, all of which are Interconnected.
That day I was explaining to people that the “Om” amognst other things, is believed to be the frequency of the Universe, symbolizing the energy and connection in everything.
This was very evident when I entered that street and before I saw anyone, I knew I was in danger. I could feel it and thoughts of being robbed were even going through my mind.
It was like the movie Lord of the Rings, where Frotos sword glows when “there are foes near”
Having traveled in some pretty dodgy places, I always relied on my intuition to warn me as I proceeded into certain situations. I trusted this sensation and it has always guided me well.
But here, I ignored it for some reason, or maybe didn’t even feel it until it was too late.
I believe there are signs in life. I see them everywhere and am getting quite the knack for decoding them. Not always perfectly, but sometimes with eery precision.
I believe we all have this skill.
When things like this occur in life, first of all, it means you are living close to your purpose. Even though it may seem like a negative thing, it is all happening for a reason. Sometimes there is just too much coincidence to deny this. On the contrary, when you are not experiencing many coincidences, I tend to believe you are getting off track.
Also, things like this occur to bring attention to things in our life. As with all things that are lost, your attention on those things heighten. Coincidences always have a meaning and the meanings are usually what the first appear to be. In other words, when you stop to think about the meaning, usually the first things that come to your mind are the right things.
Update To This Blog Post
Just to further prove the connection between people and the energy that flows through us all, here is an email I recieved from my mom:
Good morning Nate
“I’m so glad you are all right, last Thursday I woke up and felt very uneasy, something was wrong. You came to mind and I could not shake the feeling ,I came to work and shared this with a few people. I really felt like you were in danger. I’m so glad your ok”
What was a situation in your life where you should have or did follow your intuition?
Hi, I’m Nate Bunger and the writer and entrepreneur behind this blog.Over the past several years I've created, managed and sold several different businesses despite never finishing high school, making myself more or less financially free by the age of 25.
I used the realization that we can do anything in life if we are simply willing to set goals, find the answers we seek and never stop until we achieve what we set out for.
I currently teach people how to get clear on their purpose, create habits for massive change and bring their deepest desires into reality.
I operate my business from a Mac laptop while traveling around the world…My dream :)
