CHANCE ENCOUNTERS

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     Last week I spent a delightful evening with friends.  Our conversation was about the chance encounters we have in Life with others and how they blossom into overlapping networks of people who have “chance” encounters with people already connected by chance.

     It has been mind boggling to notice how this occurs.  Remarkably, one friend made reference to the famous quote about commitment that I wrote about a few weeks ago – only this person hadn’t read that blog.  Yes, these connections are the kind of things that are referred to by W. H. Murray, “…all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way,” as he described what is born out of commitment.

     I invite you to notice where chance encounters have occurred this year and how they are blossoming in ways that you would have never expected.  Perhaps, some chance encounter from years ago has found a way to overlap with someone or some experience currently.

     As we find ourselves in a season of thanksgiving, hope, reflection, and assessing our lives for goal setting for the New Year, take time to reflect on the chance occurrences you have taken for granted and welcome their gifts with thanks.

© Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010

COMMITMENT

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     Last week I presented a woman of determination, Victoria Kageni, in my newsletter.   She is committed to creating a program that will be significant in the lives of others.  I watched her take her first step in realizing the goal and I began to see how things were falling into place for her in the past few weeks.

     Starting somewhere doesn’t promise a smooth ride, but it does put into play a host of right actions and reactions, resources, serendipitous events and a path that leads to where one wants to go.  It starts with commitment to realize the goal, followed by action.

     Having determination, commitment and action starts the ball rolling and even when one does not know the way, a way is made.  William Hutchinson Murray said, in a quote of which all, and not part, is usually attributed to Goethe, “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it (Goethe).  Begin it now.” ~ W.H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition.

For Newsletter story, “One Woman’s Journey” about Victoria Kageni:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs014/1103025183710/archive/1103853843930.html

©  Dr. Drayton-Craig, 2010