SERENDIPITY.. is a wonderful thing!

The dictionary defines serendipity as “finding something good without looking for it”.. but I love Lawrence Block’s quote “Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for”.. and it comes with a caveat “One aspect of serendipity to bear in mind is that you have to be looking for something in order to find something else”..

We have all at some time in your lives (and probably many times) experienced something that made us feel “Wow! That was just so lucky.. How did that work out so well? Can’t believe that solution just popped up out of nowhere.. I was actually planning to meet up with him/her and they called/bumped into me today etc..” We can call these coincidences.. happy surprises.. “kamaal ho gaya” or whatever we want.. but at the end of the day.. THIS is serendipity in action and completely for real!

The Universe is constantly sending us little messages.. showing us and only us.. certain special treats.. a butterfly sucking nectar.. a shooting star.. a moment when all the street lights come on simultaneously.. the sun sinking into the sea.. a call email or text message from a long-lost and perhaps even almost forgotten friend.. unstinting support in times of crisis from people you never really acknowledged or valued.. These are mini serendipities and we need to recognize them as such.. We need to be AWARE of what we want and need.. and open to receiving it from wherever and whoever we are receiving it from!

Being a lifelong learner is an essential prerequisite to personal spiritual growth.. do allow me to share an example to illustrate this! There is a dance show on Zee TV called Dance Indian Dance Little Masters and it is both judged and promoted by Remo D’Souza.. He started his career as a background dancer in Bollywood and is now a celebrity dancer choreographer show judge film producer and director, but is simple to the core! There’s a young participant from New Delhi called Sadiya Parveen whose father stitches (fake) leather handbags.. it’s a very modest family but when Remo asked him “How much do you make being the only earning member in a family of 5?” And in response to the reply of Rs.7000 per month, he asked “How do you manage? Guzaara kaise kar lete ho?’ You could have heard a pin drop when Sadiya’s father said “Hamaari zarooratein kam hain na isliye!” (Our needs are very few that’s how).. Remo was absolutely stunned into silence and thanked Sadiya’s father saying “You have just taught me a very important life lesson!”

There’s a saying “When you lose in life.. don’t lose the lesson” but it makes more sense for us to create a mindset that’s open to opportunities for introspection learning and growth.. Be present.. be completely present to your surroundings.. with a receptive mind and heart.. and the serendipities of happy coincidences.. special “wow” moments.. “eureka I got it” moments will fill you and your world with unending peace and joy!!