Saturday, April 21, 2012

"S" is for Serendipity....

perceptions + quotes + reality =
A to Z Challenge


The light in the study remains aglow as darkness envelops me like a warm blanket. I struggle to stay conscious with the ensuing cold medication trickling through my veins. The throbbing ache in my throat grips as I attempt to gulp and breathe.  Dear God, please let me feel better in order to complete the essential paperwork for my early morning meeting. Regardless, sleep apprehends my body.

I awake to the gentle aroma of cinnamon swirl coffee while the cloudiness in my head persists in imprisoning my thoughts. I glance to the time keeper on the cable box and hear the soft buzz of the talking heads on the television announcing school delays and closings. School is closed!
This is what I call a serendipitous moment.

Serendipity is defined by Mirriam-Webster as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.  Serendipitous is a derivative of that word marked by events that are come upon or found by accident; fortuitous.
This is one of my favorite and most distinctive words as it marks joyful unique moments when life whispers affirmations- a found diamond earring I’d lost years earlier, a dream that revealed clues to an impending fork in the road or yes, an unexpected snow day just at the ‘perfect’ moment.

What is a serendipitous moment in your life?

“Serendipity is putting a quarter in the gumball machine and having three pieces come rattling out instead of one—all red.”

- Peter H. Reynolds

40 comments:

Jaye Robin Brown said...

Serendipitous moment? We had decided to move to Virginia - had a contract on a house (pending sale of our house here), I got a 4th grade regular ed teaching position in Richmond - then the housing bubble burst and we couldn't sell our house and we knew 2 mortgages wouldn't work so we had to let the VA house go. That next day a position was posted for an art teacher in the neighboring county here in NC. I got the job. Funny how life works out (and we only had 2 snow days this year!)

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Enjoyed your s post . Good to read.

Yvonne.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I know that kind of Serendipity personally. :)

T

Bish Denham said...

A serendipitous moment is one that is unplanned. There are everywhere.

Inger said...

Would this do: Soldier, our dog, was so injured that he couldn't walk, sat in his own mess and so on. We made the difficult decision to put him down and made the appointment. That same morning, Soldier, who couldn't move for over a week, got up, walked outside, lifted his leg and...The vet gave him all kinds of medicine, said it would take six weeks with no guarantees, a blogger friend donated a harness, and six weeks later he could walk again. And he's still here enjoying his life. Whether it's serendipity or not, it is still a good story, I think.

Unknown said...

Will you share one of the red gum balls, please?

Good write ...

Have a beautiful weekend ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

TexWisGirl said...

i like moments of unexpected gifts - perfectly timed. :)

Marianne (Mare) Baker Ball said...

Beautiful snow picture! I love having chocolate brought to me unexpectedly by a loved one. I love it when God surprises me with grace and mercy when I most need it.

Out on the prairie said...

those unexplained moments of happiness I find when out on the prairie

Donna K. Weaver said...

Love this word! Besides the fact I love what it means, I love the way it flows off the tongue. I'm so stealing that quote!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post. I adore that quote from Peter Reynolds... and I too love that found earring moment!

Unknown said...

Your writing is wonderful.. I really enjoyed your post!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Serendipitous moment - the other day while putting together video clips with music, we put together a series of clips, then played the music, and the words of the song went perfectly with the video clips . . . we didn't have to change a thing!

Connie said...

It's a wonderful feeling. It seems like moments like that don't happen often, but they're great when they do. Nice post, Tracy. Have a good weekend! :)

M said...

I remember teaching 3rd grade and that was a vocabulary word. We had a lot of fun with it.....as for any time that happened to me? Probably when I am looking for my car keys and I find something I was looking for earlier.

Happy A-Z Saturday :)

Tina said...

That was a fun entry, never heard of that word until I saw the movie"serendipity". Great movie by the way!

Unknown said...

Serendipitous for me was when I was starting a new job assignment and I was very nervous. I had a few blocks to walk after I got off the bus and as I started down Addams St. I heard my name. I looked back and there was my sister. Her office was a just a block from my new job and we walked together. I was less nervous when I arrived.

What a great word. I love serendipitous moments. :)

Robyn Campbell said...

I love reading your writing. Serendipitous moments are the best moments we have. Super word, Tracy! You win the prize. *holds chocolate Bliss out* Go on. Take it! :-)

Wanda said...

Sharing my cookie ministry always brings me so much joy. Today it was to the new owner of a Christian Book store in our town.

A tasty bag of warm peanut butter, and chocolate chip cookies, says I care real well.

Anonymous said...

I love traveling the road of serendipity. Never know who you will meet or what you will find.

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

That is one of my favorite words. I like saying it out loud.

Not sure if this is serendipitous, but here goes: I applied to work for the Altavista Journal as a staff writer 9 years ago, right before I got married and moved to Altavista. Didn't get the job. I don't think I even came close. So I stayed in my health educator job and gained a lot more experience, moving more into media relations, training, etc.

Fast forward to 2009: I am miserable at my state job (DMV). I didn't always read the AJ, but I read it that week and saw the want ad for a staff writer. I applied. New editor, more experience on my part, in a better place financially. And I got the job! I wasn't ready in 2003. I do wonder sometimes, what if I hadn't seen that want ad. But I did?

Another great post, Tracy!

Maggie from Stillness at Cherith said...

I love the photo =)
Hope you are feeling better

Joyful Noise for a Joyful Life said...

I was explaining to a friend on our way out of town for a girl's night that I have to quit whining because it is not what you gather but what you scatter that matters in life. In particular, I snivel that God placed a low mileage, wonderfully priced vehicle that gets fantastic mileage in my life. The problem was that I dreamed of my after mini-van car and it needed to be a pearl white, Toyota Solaro convertible with a camel top and absolutely not a silver one. As you may have guessed my steal of a deal was not only a hard topped Honda Civic it was silver to boot.
Right after I shared with her we pulled up to a pearl white, Toyota Solaro convertible as we chuckled about God's humor a silver Honda Civic passed us. So here was God saying, "See they both travel down the highway just the same."

Amy Saia said...

Beautiful post. It reminds me of those soft winter days where everything is muted and almost fairy like.

I wanted to drop by and say a big thanks for the kind words you left on Karen's blog. Thank you!

Dianne said...

serendipity is a wonderful word

and so lovely when it happens

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

You gotta love the word serendipity!

Beautiful post!

mamahasspoken said...

Hum, no snow days here this year so....knowing that for the first time in MANY years, we will be out for summer break the week before Memorial Day.
As for listening to the tv for school closure. Here we get a pre-recorded phone call. By contract, we can't go by what's on the tv. So if we don't get a phone call and we see it on tv, we are taking a chance.

Arlee Bird said...

Serendipity is one of my favorite words and concepts. I've had many serendipitous events in my life.

Lee
A Few Words
An A to Z Co-host blog

My main blog is Tossing It Out

Just Be Real said...

Tracy a delightful post. Love the meaning you put with the gumball machines. I remember as a kid that happening once in a while. Whatever the reason for it, my belief was someone put money ahead of me and forgot to turn the lever. Blessings.

Brian's Home Blog said...

WOW! That was a great post. For me, I guess it's when unexpected treats fall to the floor.

Arkansas Patti said...

I think all my moments are serendipitious for I am a terrible planner.
Snow day when sick with cold--priceless.

Catherine said...

Snow??? GAAAAAK!
xo Catherine

Sally said...

Hi, found you on the 'surprise me' button. Look forward to reading more of your posts.
New follower from A - Z.
http://sallys-scribbles.blogspot.co.uk/

Julie Flanders said...

I hate snow, but this picture is simply gorgeous. Snow is always so beautiful when I don't have to actually deal with it LOL.

Serendipity is such a fantastic word, I love the sound of it as for some reason it fits so well with the meaning.

Berts Blog said...

There is a beautiful field next door to us that is full of tall green grasses right now and thousands of dandilions. In the middle of all this natural beauty stands one brilliantly red tulip. Just one.

that is our moment. and it has lasted for days.

LV said...

A wonderful post filled with great words.

Sherry Ellis said...

I love serendipitous moments. I can't recall one specifically, but I know I've had them. Love your writing! I can just smell the cinnamon swirl coffee!

Chatty Crone said...

I think just out of the blue checking your blog was one. I saw you on Ginny's blog - I love her - I figure I will love her friends. sandie

JudyH329 said...

I was so caught up in your story! Wouldn't you know, for the life of me I can't think of a serendipitous moment, I've had them, don't get me wrong, but they're eluding me! I know, when I wake up and for a moment I'm confused and think, ugh, gotta get dressed for work, then it hits me, it's Saturday! I'm not a snow person, but the picture is very enticing!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

A Serendipity moment is when we are hiking deep in the mountains --and then we come around a curve --and see a gorgeous waterfall there --JUST for us!!!!! Awesome!!!!

Hope you are feeling better.
Hugs,
Betsy