Of all the eclectic treasures I’ve collected over a lifetime of wandering that count among My Favorite Things—none has a stronger “instant-calm” setting than a bronze Buddha head that keeps watch from the shelf above my desk. In the tornado of real-estate negotiations—inspectors circling, attorneys tweaking clauses, buyers second-guessing midnight Google searches—one glance at this serene face radiates a hush and levels my pulse faster than any noise-canceling headphones.

Love at First Sight in Bangkok
“Buddha” entered my life in 1995 while wandering Bangkok’s riverfront antique stalls—pre-highway, pre-ride-share, peak smog. The shop was a collision of teak carvings, lacquer trays, and dusty curios, but one cardboard box on the bottom shelf held a jumble of bronze heads. Amid the tangle, one face glowed with a patina that felt both ancient and alive. Its elongated ears, pebble-textured curls, and half-closed eyes exuded a serenity I craved in the chaos of Thai traffic.

Love was immediate; Buddha was bubble-wrapped and shipped home before sunset.

Design Details
Crafted from bronze that has mellowed into a rich brown-green patina, the head stands roughly eight inches high and six inches wide—large enough to command attention, yet compact enough to perch on a bookcase shelf. My mount maker, the same artisan who fashions bases for the Art Institute’s Asian collection, filled the hollow casting with foam, slipped a slender steel rod inside, and anchored everything to a low, minimalist plinth. The effect is subtle magic: light glides beneath the chin, so the sculpture seems to float. I installed it exactly at seated eye level: one tough phone call + one upward glance = instant composure.

Daily Calm in a Broker’s World
Fast-forward nearly 30 years: Buddha now watches over market reports, client Zooms, and the occasional expletive-laden spreadsheet. When a deal turns combative, I pause, exhale, and focus on that tranquil gaze. A few seconds later my tone softens, and solutions replace objections. It’s mindfulness by osmosis—no chanting required.

Clients notice, too. During listing consultations they often stop mid-sentence and ask, “Is that a Buddha?”—their shoulders dropping, voices gentling. The sculpture becomes an icebreaker, a reminder that home isn’t just square footage; it’s atmosphere.

What This Piece Teaches

1. Curate with Heart. Decor isn’t filler; it’s a toolkit for emotional balance
   
2. Position with Purpose. Place meaningful objects where your eyes naturally rest during stress points.
3. Invest in Presentation. A $100 mount can elevate a $50 flea-market find into gallery art.
4. Let Objects Age Gracefully. Like my Cartier clock, Buddha proves that patina outlasts any trend.

An Invitation to Find Your Own Serenity Object
You needn’t fly to Bangkok to claim calm. Maybe it’s a river stone from childhood, a black-and-white photograph, or an heirloom fountain pen. Display it where you wrestle with deadlines or family budgets. Let it remind you that worry is temporary, but composure—like bronze—can endure for centuries.

In the Happily Ever Always™ universe, small acts breed big impact. This eight-inch Buddha may never sign a contract or wire earnest money, yet it anchors my business more securely than any spreadsheet. When the world feels frantic, he whispers the same lesson every time: stillness sells—and that’s why he’ll forever remain one of My Favorite Things.