I’m a strong believer in synchronicity and that everything happens for a reason. We are happy when its something good. But when tragedy strikes we ask why and we wait for an answer. But tragedy doesn’t have thoughts or a mind of its own, It only reacts to what is already happening or what is about to happen.
Kind of like a Jellyfish, they don’t have a brain or thoughts or even a central nervous system. All they have are a very basic set of nerves at the base of their little tentacles that basically only detect touch and temperature. And they reflexively respond to these things accordingly as it floats around. Not knowing the pain it can cause or is about to cause.
Not enough people realize the power we all have as individuals to make a situation not only better but more understandable, because sometimes we can’t make them better even if we want to. But understanding why instead of waiting for why makes it a little easier in my opinion. Plus more often than we think just a simple smile could go a long way with someone.
Depression is an expert at hiding and seek, so in other people, we may not see it. And if you’ve ever been one to hide it you can relate. I let the evils of the world be dealt with and not waste time. There are too many good people who need people to care, people who maybe just.. fell off the boat and.. now in an ocean full of jellyfish I love to be the person that makes sure those who need a life jacket can receive one. Because I have needed one many times and do not have one is just as bad as the reason why we need one, to begin with.
I will forever have a different view and method for life because I have had a near-death experience more than once. And everything that has happened since then and each morning I wake up was something that wasn’t supposed to happen and is a day I wasn’t supposed to see.
So I take everything a grain of rice at a time to which I examine until I’ve gained something from it, good or bad. My life is Like playing a game of Zelda, once you have died the game is over. If you beat the game then just like when you die the game also ends. And I feel like I have done both and I actually get to keep playing, but now it’s just for fun.
I feel like I beat the game and started over so now I’m just doing all the little side missions that normal players tend to skip. No one talks to the villagers, they go straight to what they were told to do and that saves the princess. Why not do both. Don’t miss an opportunity on a side mission because not everyone gets a 2nd chance at them and you could miss something really great.
But people who have been through something traumatic and are able to share are my favorite kind of people. I want to hear their perspective, I want to soak in their knowledge because it inspires me, it helps me develop as a person, It gives me tools to make different sized life jackets for others because it’s not a 1 size fits all type of world.
The more we learn the more universal we can become and adapt to almost anything and everyone. I’ve handed out food and money and physical things to others because the looks I’ve been given and the reactions I’ve seen make a 2nd chance feel like a whole new and even better game. It can be heartbreaking but heals you just as fast knowing YOU threw someone a life jacket. And maybe it won’t help them out of the water but they can float for the time being and feel as though THEY have a 2nd chance.
Maybe you answered their prayer, maybe you answered your own and I feel like that’s what Christ went through for us. His heart was broken for us and went through what he did and because he was so selfless, he was healed and returned in perfect form. And now he can be with all of us all at once. I struggle quite often with normal everyday things and I’m far from perfect because once you see the bigger picture it’s hard to care about the little, physical, unimportant things.
Back to my Zelda reference, if I need to get to a side mission I HAVE to get through this next boss even though I don’t want to and already have. I HAVE to pay bills and handle responsibilities so that I can do the things I enjoy. I don’t want to, and not because I’m lazy or want more money, but because they don’t matter to me.
I’d rather be in the right place at the right time all the time. And sometimes I am. A quote by C.G. Jung a well-known philosopher said, “Synchronicity is an ever present reality for those who have eyes to see.” In my experience the more I pay attention to these things the more they make sense and the more often they happen, strengthening my intuition and instincts.
A quick story that happened a year and a half ago, it was Sunday morning, I woke up like I do every other morning, craving coffee. Excited because I had just bought some the day before and I was ready to brew it in my new french press. But I suddenly had this feeling that I should go to Mcdonald’s for coffee. Not even for the food just coffee. And I said to myself why? I just bought a coffee yesterday. Why not stay in the comfort of my own home.
Well, I know myself quite well at this point and when I get instincts like this I never ignore them. So I get ready, I throw my coat on and on I go. I begin to drive, now there are 2 Mcdonald’s locations near me, 1 is just short of a mile and the other about 4 miles.
I’m creeping up ready to make my turn at the traffic light. The closer Mcdonald’s is to the right, furthest Mcdonald’s is to the left. Obviously, the closer one makes more sense but again.. Something told me to go left. So left I went. I drive down and I pull up in the parking lot and I say, am I going in or am I going through the drive-thru. I picked drive-thru, all I want is coffee but AGAIN, something told me to go in. So I quickly change my mind and I sat in my car for about 2 min finishing the song I was listening to.
I turn my car off and in I go. I step out and I hear a voice behind me. “Excuse me” kind of startled me, I didn’t notice anyone around at all when I was deciding to park. I look back and I see a man early 30s, baggy jeans, a long white t-shirt, and a black backpack. And he says “do you have any extra change on you” I cautiously take a quick scan at him since he pretty much came out of nowhere, and I said “are you trying to get something to eat? “yeah,” he says. So, of course, I told him to come in I’ll get you something.
Right then I knew and everything made complete sense. He cracks a smile and says really? thanks! He was pretty shy and soft-spoken. You can tell he wasn’t looking for a free handout.
I introduce myself and ask for his name and we chat for a sec and I said get whatever you want man I’m gonna get some coffee and a couple of breakfast burritos. So we start talking about everything on the menu, what his favorites are and he said he likes the orange juice. So we order and he got the hotcakes and some OJ I got what I wanted and I pay.
I hand him the receipt to wait for our order and I step back to go fill my water cup. I look back and I see him staring up at the menu, back in the kitchen just anxiously waiting. The way he stood, slightly moving his legs back and forth, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone that excited about anything. Much less Mcdonalds. I had to look away because my eyes got a little glossy as I became overcome with joy.
I then told that voice inside me “don’t worry, I was listening. And I’m glad I did” and I said to it, Thank you. I talked to him for a bit and we get our food and he thanked me many times. So I asked if he wanted a ride somewhere and he declined he was going to walk. He thanked me one more time and off he went.
These type of moments are the ones I truly live for. Every decision I made led to that moment and that day could’ve and should’ve gone a different way and if I get technical it shouldn’t have been a day to see, to begin with. He was supposed to be there and I believe I was too.
You can’t take anything with you when from this life other than the knowledge we gained, the lessons we learned and who we were to each other. Even in Zelda, the things we acquire in the game aren’t real. The currency isn’t real the gems aren’t real but given get a 2nd chance with the knowledge of the game that you took, you now know what do this time, and what not to do.