Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Serendipity

Serendipity is the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it.  I actually had to look that up.  Serendipity is a beautiful thing, but trying to define it is difficult.  We've all had these moments.  The unlooked for happiness that happens by accident.  An unintended consequence. 

I was sitting in the chemo room on Monday getting treatment and I was trying to occupy myself.  I'm taking a an online art course right now called the Art of Wild Abandonment.  Its a bit of a stretch for me.  I just recently found my arty self.  I've always been a science geek, analytical, logical.  I was taught you were either one or the other, and never should the two meet. Ha!  It turns out the arty side of my brain has been just waiting to get out.  I do however stress one thing and that is that I do not draw.  Its a bit of a mental block for me.  Art yes, colour yes, cut, stencils, trace etc yes.  Draw no.  I decided to take this course because the instructor Junelle Jacobson is an absolute sweet heart who manages to take the fear out of this whole process.  She even calls it sketching.  Now logically I know that sketching and drawing are the same thing, but sketching is a less scary word.  So I'm doing it.  And its not as scary as I thought it would be.

Chemo is turning out like that. Unpleasant yes, uncomfortable yes, down right miserable sometimes yes.  But scary?  Not so much.

Where was I going with this?  Oh yes, I'm sitting in my comfy chair, reclining and sketching and the word "serendipity" just popped into my head.  I'm still trying to figure out why.  I signed up for the course in November, before I got diagnosed.  Is that accident?  No I don't thing so.  I think the accident is my cancer.  And the unlooked for good or usefulness is coming from taking the time to really do the things that give me happiness, like sketching!  who knew?  I certainly didn't.

I'm finding myself looking forward to the unintended good and happiness that will come from this accident, and all unlooked for.  Serendipity. 

I think I'm going to have to rent that movie...I've heard its good and I really like John Cusak. 

Jenna

6 comments:

  1. Jenna, you have a gift with words as well, thanks for sharing. I have this book you may want to read called The Zen Of Seeing. It is about becoming aware of the world around us by sketching. Through stillness and sensory observation, from eye to hand with pencil on paper we connect on a very profound level with whats around us. With this comes a very different perspective and outlook...

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  2. ...and i absolutely LOVE john cusak!!!

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    1. I know. Isn't he awesome. First thing I ever saw him in was "say anything". I've been in love ever since

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  3. Say Anything was one of the most honest teen movies ever filmed.
    Serendipity was forgetful and may disappoint. Put your money on the Descendants with Clooney. Great movie.

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    1. But I like John Cusak better then George Clooney

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