I’m one of those people who find meaning in even the smallest things, so when ‘coincidences’ happen I take notice. I believe that coincidences are really the universe giving us little nudges or responding to our thoughts and desires. Several serendipidous coincidences happened to me just recently. In October, I attended the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) conference in Memphis, TN. The keynote speaker was Margaret Peterson Haddix, a highly regarded and prolific YA author. In her speech she mentioned that she used Conner Prairie as inspiration for her first novel, “Running Out of Time” (see post under ‘Conner Prairie’ 10/14/2011). I live right across the river and about two miles away from Conner Prairie. The really interesting coincidence is this -while I was at the confernce I purchased Ms. Haddix’s novel “Found” and discovered that one of her characters is from Winnetka, IL, which is the town where I grew up and is fictionalized in “Indian Summer”! So what made me pick that particular novel? Is there going to be some connection between me and Margaret Peterson Haddix? (I hope so!) Her books are mostly in the science fiction genre, which is the direction that I find that my writing going. (My science background is appearing more and more in my writing, but that’s a subject for another post).
Then last week I suddenly thought of my son’s first grade teacher for no particular reason. She just popped into my head while I was at the drugstore. I hadn’t seen or talked to her in over 10 years. A few days later while I was shopping at Costco, who do you think I ran into? Mrs. Tobias, former first grade teacher! We chatted for a few minutes and she was stunned to learn that my son is now a senior and applying to colleges. I have to wonder why I thought of her and ran into her.
The third synchronicity was that I called some friends of ours to get together for a night out and then I saw our friend Celia at the church Bazaar (shopping again!). She said that she had just mentioned to her husband that they should get together with us – she hadn’t gotten my message yet. ~ Que the theme from The Twighlight Zone!
So what do these synchronisities mean? Haven’t you ever had the phone ring and you know who it is before you answer or even more spooky, been thinking about a friend and have them call? Do our thoughts somehow communicate with one another remotely or telepathically? I’m exploring these ideas in “The Field”. I believe that we are all connected. I’d love to hear about ‘coincidences’ that have happened to you!
I’ll often start signing a song I haven’t sung in years, and I’ll then go in my car, turn on the radio, and it will be playing.
Yes! It makes you wonder if you thought if the song and made it come on or the other way around. There are no coincidences!
I love the idea of the sixth sense being ‘knowing’. It covers more than other possibilities, such as: balance, pain, temperature, acceleration, and proprioception. Not sure what to ‘do’ about synchronicities, but I guess just go with the flow and enjoy!
I’m at the Hampstead NH public library.
Hi Tracy,
I have to comment because I was JUST thinking about this same phenomenon and about how frequently it happens. I attended a wake last night where I only knew a few people. One of those people was at the back talking to a stranger. I went up to the two of them and talked for a bit. I suddenly had the urge to ask the one I knew if he had any relatives in the town I work in (one of my library patrons has his same unique last name). The town is quite far from where we were (in a different state) and the man I knew did not previously know where I worked. His mouth fell open and he pointed to the stranger who was standing with us and said “That’s where he’s from!” The stranger was not a relative just a random friend who happens to live in this same distant small town. It must have been the vibes coming off of him that made me ask.
Another event that comes to mind, happened a few weeks ago. I was at the library’s front desk cataloging a new book about Glee star Jane Lynch. The telephone rang and a patron with the last name of Lynch asked to renew a book. As I was doing that, I glanced over at the local newspaper that had just been delivered. The headline was about a local politician and you guessed it, his name was Lynch! Crazy stuff like that seems to happen all the time.:)
Thanks for sharing your ideas—interesting blog!
Marcia – Thanks for you comment! These synchronicities do seem to happen all the time if we allow ourselves to ‘see’ them. The question I have is what do we ‘do’ about them? I just had another incident of feeling directed to read a novel by author Margaret McMullan who I recently met and in the book the character moves to Winnetka, IL – just like Margaret Peterson Haddix!! I do think as Celia said that they could be called ‘God moments’. I’ve read recently that we all have six senses -seeing, hearing, taste, smell, touch and KNOWING. Where are you a librarian?
I totally agree that coincidences have more importance than we typically give them. Some call them “God – incidences.”
Yes, so apparently we are meant to get together soon!