Synchronicity

Synchronicity is the experience of two or more events that are apparently causally unrelated or unlikely to occur together by chance, yet are experienced as occurring together in a meaningful manner. The concept of synchronicity was first described in this terminology by Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychologist, in the 1920s.


Back in September I wrote about having a home exchange opportunity in Taunton, Somerset drop into our laps entirely by 'chance'.  Or so I thought at the time.

You can read about it here:  http://cwm4.blogspot.ca/2012_09_01_archive.html

Since then there have been a few more synchronicity occurrences that have made me sit up and take notice.

Occurrence #1
A few weeks ago, I invited a student's family over to look at our hardwood floors.  They were considering hiring the same floor-layer we used and wanted to see his handiwork.  After a short tour of the house, we sat in Joe's Cafe drinking lattes discussing our upcoming summer trip to England.

The mom, Emma, noticed a book about Somerset sitting on our coffee table.  Without missing a beat she said, "I was born in Taunton."

"WHAT?!"  Both Joe and I said in unison. "THAT'S THE TOWN WHERE OUR HOME EXCHANGE IS!"

Occurrence #2
Last week a friend returned from a trip to Arizona.  She was in a high-end grocery store when she noticed packages of English butter on the shelves.  She couldn't believe it when she saw the butter was made in Taunton.  She bought a package of it for Joe and I.

Occurrence #3
I immediately posted a photo of the butter onto Jo's facebook page telling her the story.  She commented back saying, "My husband and I lived on Billet Street when we were first married."


I can hardly wait to experience more of these occurrences.  I find them fascinating!

CHA CHA CHA!

Friends of ours are dancers.  Real dancers.  Professional ballroom dancers.

They graciously invited us to join them in a night of dance lessons.

We gathered in their home for a sumptuous dinner, followed by a three hour dance lesson.  Not only that, Janice was dancing with a broken rib.  Talk about a trooper!

We started out learning the box step.  "Side together forward, side together back".  Pretty simple, right?  NOT FOR ME!  I had to watch my partner's feet for the first hour or so.  I felt like I was about 10 years old.  Then we had to close our eyes while we danced so that we could feel it, instead of think about it.

Men danced with men, women with women.  We danced with our spouses.  We danced with each other's spouses.

It goes without saying that we had a lot of fun.  Many laughs.  Many squashed toes.  (Sorry Joe.)

Thank you Janice and Kevin for opening your home to us and being so patient.  I promise we'll keep practising.  I can hardly wait for the next lesson!

Until next time, "Side together forward, side together back."