Goddess of the week: Nemesis

How are you feeling about the AIG bonus scandal?  Are you irate?  Do you want revenge?  Are you one of the letter writers AIG CEO Edward M. Liddy told congress about last week?  Did you really threaten death by piano wire?  Or did you, like Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, just want the AIG executives to all go out and kill themselves?

If so, you are are clearly under the influence of Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution.  A sister of the Fates, Nemesis is one tough cookie, but I wouldn't call her evil.  In her way, she is quite just.  There are only two things that piss Nemesis off: hubris and lack of equilibrium.

She definitely hates hubris, especially hubris that is the result of undeserved good fortune, which is why she's out to get those AIG bastards.  Run a company into the ground and still get extravagant bonuses?  Nemesis doesn't think so. 

Nemesis also hates lack of equilibrium, which, frankly, is why she visits all of us from time to time.  Sigh.  If she sees you being too happy for too long?  Wham!!  It's over.  She'll pull that rug right out from under you.  But she doesn't want you only to suffer either.  So, the good news is, just when things really get rotten she's likely to throw you a bone.  It's all supposed to keep us humble and to remind us how little control we have over life and its circumstances.  

Your best move?  Lay low.  Don't make too big a deal over your luck or success.  That great refinancing rate you've just locked in?  I wouldn't Twitter about it.  Not your issue?  Are you just hoping your COBRA plan doesn't run out too soon?  Take heart.  Maybe Nemesis will be feeling generous when she passes your way.  Then again, maybe not.  So be humble.  Remember: be humble.

Channel this goddess:  Do you really need to own this?  Why not leave these sorts of things in Nemesis's hands.  She'll handle it.  Guaranteed.  You?  Go meditate.  Plant a garden.  Make soup.  Be humble.