I don’t venture far from my home these days. Yet so far this week, I happened upon a murmuration of starlings while walking with a friend, my pregnant niece had to go into the hospital because of contractions at 28 weeks (she’s doing better), and I had an unexpected and difficult but healing conversation. There’s always something. How about you? Do you have at least one chance event so far this week you can share?
I did have a wonderful chance encounter with the moon this week that I shared on Instagram. I was focused on the big, bright, glorious sunset in front of me, and I happened to turn around and see the moon rising. It was just as glorious, but much more subtle and quiet. I ended up spending a lot more time watching the moon and clouds change, something I probably would have missed if I had not by chance turned around at that exact moment. What a good life lesson - a chance encounter can lead to you something you have overlooked but that is more powerful or meaningful in the end.
Love the way you expressed the moon story, such beauty, even with subtle and quiet. I appreciate your last couple of sentences. Being open to chance increases seeing more clearly. Thanks for sharing your life lesson Christine! I mentioned somewhere in the post the book The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. Wonderful book, I have given it as gifts to a few people, and all enjoyed it. He also has a website where you can sign up for his newsletter. Thank you again for sharing your special chance encounter with the moon!
It’s an interesting topic, this chance. I had drinks with a woman named Linda in 1985 after I crashed a creative writing class she was attending, to hear the guest speaker. Linda is still the love of my life, who makes every day a better one, and my life would be very different if not for that chance encounter.
Earlier this week, Sharana’s note about the book Surprise led me to the public library (thanks, Shanara!), and when I put Surprise on hold, a recommended book popped up: a reissue of a 1995 diary by musician Brian Eno (A Year With Swollen Appendices, originally published in 1996).
Eno tells a story about being in hospital, where a friend put a record on the player at low volume and left. Unable to reach the volume, Eno ended up listening to the sound of rain heard through an open window, with the recorded music occasionally bubbling through. That combination of random background sounds led to is interest in ambient electronica.
So, my search for one book led by chance to another book written by a person I admire, whose career developed because of a combination of chance elements.
But wait, there’s more. A couple of days ago I was photographing on a street corner downtown. As often happens, someone came over to chat. The person was a street photographer who wanted to know more about what I was doing and why. I explained that I was photographing my neighbourhood, and in doing so explained why I enjoyed what I was photographing at that moment (street frontages with strong, simple lines), and, as someone passed by, how I like to incorporate the chance element of people into the picture.
My chance conversation with a stranger helped me understand how important the chance passage of people through my pictures turns individual street frontages into something different, sort of like Eno’s harp music drifting through the sound of rain.
I wonder if I would have had my photo-epiphany if I hadn’t been thinking about the significance of chance……
Wonderful stories, Tim, of the potency of chance in your life. Once you start looking, it’s like a thread unravelling. I love the random way I discover new things and how they seem to come at just the right time.
Very interesting! Thank you Kim, MUCH to think about here. I appreciate your time, reflections, and resources!! Should make for an interesting week's theme. I was reminded of the book Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected. by Tania Luna and Leeann Renninger. I have a copy, and given a couple as gifts. Sure you have heard of it. It seemed that the word Surprise could be substituted for Chance. What do you think? Surprise is "an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing." The word surprise has a more positive and fun feeling than Chance for me. I do try to orchestrate surprises in different ways now. Surprise is one of the important elements in SoulCollage. Seena Frost loved Surprises. I value surprise much in SC, and made a list of quotes by Seena about surprises. "The beginning of transformation lies in surprise. Cherish your interruptions!" Your 9 Habits of Contemplative Photography encourage surprise. Of course there are the positive and then more challenging surprises. I am excited to read your article more in depth, seeing more relationships and connections between SoulCollage, Contemplative Photography, Feldenkrais Method, and other areas. Your article on Chance was a surprise, unexpected! I very much appreciate the qualities of openness, attention, possibilities, wonder, connections, acceptance, and curiosity with chance and surprise. I see with new eyes and increased possibilities when open to surprise, curiosity deepens. I am seeing more clearly.
Wonderful surprise, connects with this week's theme for me! Fun and helpful book in different ways, hope you enjoy it!! You are welcome Timothy!! Thanks for letting me know! BEST to you!!
RESOURCE: BOOK Expect the Unexpected or You Won't Find It By Roger von Oech. I have all of his books, and they are fun and stimulating to read! He also has 2 card decks that are good, material from the books.
I don’t venture far from my home these days. Yet so far this week, I happened upon a murmuration of starlings while walking with a friend, my pregnant niece had to go into the hospital because of contractions at 28 weeks (she’s doing better), and I had an unexpected and difficult but healing conversation. There’s always something. How about you? Do you have at least one chance event so far this week you can share?
I did have a wonderful chance encounter with the moon this week that I shared on Instagram. I was focused on the big, bright, glorious sunset in front of me, and I happened to turn around and see the moon rising. It was just as glorious, but much more subtle and quiet. I ended up spending a lot more time watching the moon and clouds change, something I probably would have missed if I had not by chance turned around at that exact moment. What a good life lesson - a chance encounter can lead to you something you have overlooked but that is more powerful or meaningful in the end.
Ah yes, I love when that happens. And your last line is very insightful. Thanks for sharing this special moment.
Love the way you expressed the moon story, such beauty, even with subtle and quiet. I appreciate your last couple of sentences. Being open to chance increases seeing more clearly. Thanks for sharing your life lesson Christine! I mentioned somewhere in the post the book The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. Wonderful book, I have given it as gifts to a few people, and all enjoyed it. He also has a website where you can sign up for his newsletter. Thank you again for sharing your special chance encounter with the moon!
RESOURCE: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Noticing-Creativity-Inspiration-Discover-ebook/dp/B07GD4HP67
So sorry to read about your niece. Certainly glad she has improved Kim!!! Hope she continues doing better!
It’s an interesting topic, this chance. I had drinks with a woman named Linda in 1985 after I crashed a creative writing class she was attending, to hear the guest speaker. Linda is still the love of my life, who makes every day a better one, and my life would be very different if not for that chance encounter.
Earlier this week, Sharana’s note about the book Surprise led me to the public library (thanks, Shanara!), and when I put Surprise on hold, a recommended book popped up: a reissue of a 1995 diary by musician Brian Eno (A Year With Swollen Appendices, originally published in 1996).
Eno tells a story about being in hospital, where a friend put a record on the player at low volume and left. Unable to reach the volume, Eno ended up listening to the sound of rain heard through an open window, with the recorded music occasionally bubbling through. That combination of random background sounds led to is interest in ambient electronica.
http://www.rebeatmag.com/fullness-of-wind-40-years-of-brian-enos-discreet-music/
So, my search for one book led by chance to another book written by a person I admire, whose career developed because of a combination of chance elements.
But wait, there’s more. A couple of days ago I was photographing on a street corner downtown. As often happens, someone came over to chat. The person was a street photographer who wanted to know more about what I was doing and why. I explained that I was photographing my neighbourhood, and in doing so explained why I enjoyed what I was photographing at that moment (street frontages with strong, simple lines), and, as someone passed by, how I like to incorporate the chance element of people into the picture.
My chance conversation with a stranger helped me understand how important the chance passage of people through my pictures turns individual street frontages into something different, sort of like Eno’s harp music drifting through the sound of rain.
I wonder if I would have had my photo-epiphany if I hadn’t been thinking about the significance of chance……
Wonderful stories, Tim, of the potency of chance in your life. Once you start looking, it’s like a thread unravelling. I love the random way I discover new things and how they seem to come at just the right time.
What a fascinating story Timothy of chance, increases my awareness and appreciation of chance. Thank you for sharing!!!
Very interesting! Thank you Kim, MUCH to think about here. I appreciate your time, reflections, and resources!! Should make for an interesting week's theme. I was reminded of the book Surprise: Embrace the Unpredictable and Engineer the Unexpected. by Tania Luna and Leeann Renninger. I have a copy, and given a couple as gifts. Sure you have heard of it. It seemed that the word Surprise could be substituted for Chance. What do you think? Surprise is "an unexpected or astonishing event, fact, or thing." The word surprise has a more positive and fun feeling than Chance for me. I do try to orchestrate surprises in different ways now. Surprise is one of the important elements in SoulCollage. Seena Frost loved Surprises. I value surprise much in SC, and made a list of quotes by Seena about surprises. "The beginning of transformation lies in surprise. Cherish your interruptions!" Your 9 Habits of Contemplative Photography encourage surprise. Of course there are the positive and then more challenging surprises. I am excited to read your article more in depth, seeing more relationships and connections between SoulCollage, Contemplative Photography, Feldenkrais Method, and other areas. Your article on Chance was a surprise, unexpected! I very much appreciate the qualities of openness, attention, possibilities, wonder, connections, acceptance, and curiosity with chance and surprise. I see with new eyes and increased possibilities when open to surprise, curiosity deepens. I am seeing more clearly.
https://www.amazon.com/Surprise-Embrace-Unpredictable-Engineer-Unexpected/dp/0399169822
Thanks for the book tip, Sharana. I just found 'Surprise' at our local library!
Wonderful surprise, connects with this week's theme for me! Fun and helpful book in different ways, hope you enjoy it!! You are welcome Timothy!! Thanks for letting me know! BEST to you!!
RESOURCE: BOOK Expect the Unexpected or You Won't Find It By Roger von Oech. I have all of his books, and they are fun and stimulating to read! He also has 2 card decks that are good, material from the books.
A wonderful suggestion (and fascinating title), Sharana. Thank you.
Welcome Timothy, never a dull moment reading with Roger von Oech! Many surprises with his books!