-------------
Serendipity is a word I have embraced and used for many years. It is one of the more expressive words in our lexicon, having come to us after being created by Horace Walpole in adopting a term from Sri Lankan literature. It told the story of three princes from a place called Serendip who regularly discovered wonderful things which they were not seeking. (Dictionary.com)
By now you may be nodding your head, saying to yourself, "I know exactly what that means. It has happened to me." The reality is that serendipity happens to almost all of us at one time or another; we just have to be open to it and ready to be aware of it. Taking a wrong turn (before GPS) and discovering one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen. Sitting down in a public place and discovering a new friendship with a person sitting next to you. Picking up a magazine in a doctor's waiting room and opening to an article about an old friend you haven't seen in decades.
These things happen all the time, and they provide color to our lives. We like to think we are in total control of the events of our lives, but serendipity reminds us of chance, happenstance, fate, or whatever you want to call it. Some will attribute religious quallities to it; I prefer to recognize that it is a part of life.
Some people seem to experience serendipity more than others. My suspicion is that they are more open to possibilities than others. If one's life is closed up and self-focused the liklihood of experiencing serendipity is minimal. Those who enjoy people-watching and experimentation are more likely to recognize serendipity when it happens.
My favorite kind of vacation experience is getting into a car and heading west. No reservations, no plan, no specific expectations. That doesn't work for some who need more specific, organized details of a trip. Once, when travelling in New Zealand, my wife and I headed off into an uncharted territory. We had no idea where we were going. The scenery we saw and the experiences we encountered were incredible. Whenever we talk about that trip to New Zealand we go immediately to that wonderful day... a day on which we experienced serendipity at its best.
Photo credit: Stockphoto.com
No comments:
Post a Comment