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Multi-syllables are good
Well to begin with, it’s a lovely, multi-syllabic word which trips off my tongue but there is more. It is more than just a tongue-teasing word. It’s a situation we all want to share. In popular use, it is regarded much like luck or good fortune. By some happy chance you are in the right place at the right time and find something wonderful that you weren’t looking for. You met the person who had the answer to your problem. You found the winning lottery ticket on the subway seat. You met the woman you want to marry. Serendipity is like a fairy tale, only it’s true.
It can happen to you
Usually we think of serendipity as something that happens to others. Our own lives are ordinary, boring and predictable. We have only ordinary interactions in ordinary circumstances most of the time. We don’t anticipate that anything wonderful and unexpected will happen to us.
Not ordinary
So what is it about serendipity that makes it not ordinary? It is not ordinary because serendipity brings together everything necessary for a good outcome. It is also unexpected and is different from other possible solutions that you can imagine. If you were to design the ideal outcome based upon your knowledge, it wouldn’t have been nearly so good as something serendipitous. You can’t imagine the unexpected. That is what makes serendipity so wonderful.
Put yourself in the way
But just because you can’t control serendipity doesn’t mean that it is nothing but dumb luck – at least that is what I believe. I think that you can find serendipitous events or maybe help them find you.
Avoid ordinary
What I mean is that when we do ordinary things we get ordinary outcomes. We can have serendipity happen even when we are doing mundane things. But I think we are much more likely to find serendipity when we venture away from the ordinary and business as usual and get out of our comfort zones. When we do something different, put ourselves in a new place, follow a new path, it is much more likely that what happens is unexpected. If it is positive and unexpected then we have serendipity.
Get out there
So put yourself out there. Go new places. Meet new people. Do new things. Leave your comfort zone. You may still not find serendipity – a wonderful and completely unpredictable event. But you won’t be ordinary either and your ordinary, boring life will be lifted to a new level.
This works on many levels.
For me, exploring a new and difficult piece of software often pays off with unexpected insight I can use in my own projects.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Technical Tuesday: Another Look at WordPress register_activation_hook =-.
I am absolutely sure that it works that way for you. Exploring a difficult piece of software for me is never serendipitous.
Ralph,
A very interesting post; enjouyable in the least.
Do you think serendipity is in some way related to the Law of Attraction or Karma? Just a thought.
Regards
Paul
.-= Paul´s last blog ..Rocky Road =-.
Paul,
Makes sense to me.
Ralph, this post is amazing, and in particular I loved the section under the heading “avoid ordinary.” that’s pure poetry. I just quoted it to Justin Matthews in response to a comment he left on my blog today, and I remembered to come back here and tell you how great I think it is.
I’ve seen so much serendipity in the past few months and your piece here really helped me see how my actions, and the actions of other’s…actions out of the ordinary…created those serendipitous events.
.-= Carlos Velez´s last blog ..If I Wasn’t All In, I’d Be Backing Out =-.
Carlos,
Thank for that big encouragement. I am glad that it touches something for you what you are doing. It is part of the thinking that caused me to jump on board with the Challenge.