Life is full of chance encounters that aren’t as random as they seem. The person you sit next to on a plane that gives you an idea for a new project. A conversation you have that months later leads you down a new path. The choice you made buying a house or choosing a school that led to all sorts of new relationships. A book you pulled from a shelf that gave you new insight on how the world works.

My latest awesome coincidence came out of the writers’ group at the library. One of our attendees mentioned, in passing, that she had a friend who wanted her to read The Artist’s Way. That led to our Artist’s Way group which has set me off in all sorts of new directions with writing as well as with beads. And all it took was listening as Tyche mentioned a book and a desire. And then listening to my gut to take action.

When I started this blog, I wrote about my Book of Coincidences. Here’s how that started…

A few years ago, I was driving home from a business trip and asked my travel guides for a place to pull off the road to get water, a cup of tea, and a clean bathroom. I expected to see Mecca at each bend in the road but nothing appeared. As I started to doubt my guides – and my sanity at asking travel guides for help – I happened on Chester, Vermont. With just a slight turn off the road, I was in an awesome little town with a general store that had fresh-baked goods, water, tea, and a nice bathroom. It was all I’d asked for and more.

There were a couple of shops along Main Street so after I finished my tea, I took a stroll. I pushed open the heavy door of a small independent bookstore and a jingle above the door greeted me. Inside, I breathed the air of a real bookstore with wide-plank flooring and rows and rows of interesting books.

But I passed by the books and paused in front of a shelf of journals. I pulled out one with a pebble green leather cover. Why was I drawn to a small book filled with blank pages? I smiled. Because I needed a place to track the weird things that happen in my life.

Like the people I randomly meet who share a piece of information or advice I need to hear whether I’m looking for it or not. Like the random ideas that appear in books, articles, or websites that turn my thinking 180 degrees. And I needed a place to express my thanks when things I ask for, like water and tea, mysteriously appear in a town at a bend in the road.

I got back in the car and christened my new journal The Book of Coincidences. On the opening page, I wrote:

1. Pay attention.
2. Take notes.
3. Listen to the crazy ideas in your head.

When I got home, I sat down to write about all the weird coincidences I could remember from my past. I thought there would just be a few, but once I got started, one coincidence reminded me of others as I filled page after page with evidence of small miracles, ending with the purchase of The Book of Coincidences.

I’ve continued to track coincidences in this book, including the latest Artist’s Way group, because it reminds me that miraculous stuff happens all the time. Making note of coincidences helps you pay attention to how cool this Universe is. And it helps you remember that you’re in sync with a universal energy that exists but can’t be explained. And who doesn’t love a mystery like that?

P.S. I am sending my copy of the book to my daughter in New York who wants to do her own Artist’s Way group. And who knows where THAT will lead!

Here’s my latest bit of fun. I randomly heard a guy talking about growing luffa sponges and thought I’d give it a shot this summer. They only take 180 days to mature. Best case, I have about 150 days… I’ll let you know how this experiment goes. But for now, aren’t they cute? Happy growing to all of us. 🙂