“I’m thankful for serendipitous
moments in my life, where
things could’ve gone
the other way.” 
Rick Springfield

They can happen anywhere and at any time — those unexplainable moments when things just go “Click!” Being in the right place at the right time, only to experience something good which was unexpected, is one of life’s greatest treasures. It seems that I experience them on a fairly regular basis. Maybe you do, too.

For me, such experiences have happened in a variety of places. In 1964, while walking through Disneyland with my family, I ran into one of my elementary school classmates and his family.  In 1974, I walked into the dining hall at Bellarmine College Prep for breakfast where I found Coach John Wooden sitting alone in an empty dining hall. We enjoyed breakfast together and had an amazing conversation. In 1984, I attended one of the festivities celebrating the 25th anniversary of Saint Lawrence Parish in Santa Clara. That’s where I met Kathy. 

I’ve experienced other serendipitous moments, too: at Narita Airport in Tokyo; at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, in The City; in a souvenir shop in Nassau, Bahamas; at Java Beach Café on Judah Street in San Francisco; and most recently on the #30-Stockton Muni bus in The City. In each of these places, I met someone unexpectedly who brightened my day — and, in some cases, changed my life.

Serendipitous moments are unexpected and fortunate discoveries or occurrences which enhance our life in some way. In these moments, we manage to make connections with people we don’t know. They occur when we happen to meet and interact with the right person in the right place at the right time. 

In her article “Serendipitous Moments — More than Just Chance,” writer Danielle Gruen confirms that such experiences have a powerful effect on us. She also acknowledges that many people consider these experiences to be nothing more than a coincidence. “Making the most of such unexpected moments comes not with detailed planning or forethought, but instead with positive thought, the act of living in the moment, seizing opportunity, and creating action.”

Psychologist John Krumboltz introduced the concept of his Planned Happenstance Theory. He states that people with optimistic qualities are more likely to capitalize on chance events and turn serendipity into opportunity. This might be why some people have such experiences more often than others.

There are a few things we can do to increase the likelihood of experiencing serendipitous moments. We can approach unplanned events with optimism, rather than fear. We can be more consciously aware of the possibility of meeting new people in various settings. And we can engage in self-reflection to process our reactions and feelings. 

I am grateful for the serendipitous moments I’ve had in my life, and I look forward to experiencing more of them in the future.