It’s funny how most things in life come to us. Like this article, for instance.
I listened to a podcast as I put my laundry in the washer and took a sip of my accidental cold brew (more on that in a moment). I’m listening to an interview where they mention how things happen fast in life and we often make choices and go down paths we least expect.
As I listen, I think “Hah! Story of my life!” then my stream of consciousness takes over and I sort of see this montage in my brain of my life and business journey over the past several years, leading me to where I am today.
One of my favorite reflection exercises is to imagine that you could go back in time and tell yourself about the future.
“Hey, in {2/ 5 /10} years {this} will happen.”
Do you ever do this? For some reason I get such a kick out of it.
For some things, it would be “You won’t believe the shit that’s coming your way. Buckle up!”
Other things, I might say, “Hey, when this thing happens – please cool your jets until you calm down.
Often times, it’d be “You’re going to be so proud of how you handled this.”
I think the reason I love this little mental game is because so much of life is accidental.
I don’t think I believe in coincidences anymore (ask me again in a year), but I do believe in accidents.
Without giving it too much thought, I would guess that roughly 90% of the good things in my life have come to me accidentally.
Now, that doesn’t mean I haven’t made choices and worked damn hard to shape my reality – but the introduction of changes, people, and opportunities has been nearly all by accident.
The thing I got to thinking about earlier, though, is how many things we resist, shut down or keep from happening in our lives because the “accidental” event that brings them to us doesn’t feel right. Or that it wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t ‘part of the plan‘.
Back to my accidental cold brew (I know, you’ve been waiting with bated breath).
I decided to walk down to the lake by my house earlier to read and I had this great idea to make a cup of coffee and pour it over ice. I was very excited about this.
I made the coffee, put it in the thermos and went to get the ice. Except we don’t have ice.
Our ice maker doesn’t work and I knew that, I just forgot. I laughed because ‘Ole Murphy’s Law has been no stranger to me this week, and I thought, “well, maybe I can turn this into a homemade cold brew?”
I put the thermos of coffee in the freezer, went to the lake as planned (with only water, bleh).
About two hours later I grabbed my coffee out of the freezer, added my vanilla creamer and took a sip.
This coffee is good. Like, really good.
It was a complete accident. I’ve never considered doing this before. I’ll probably start making it twice a week now.
If I haven’t lost you yet, the point I’m making here (whether you’re as serious about coffee as I am or not) is that rolling with the accidental responses, opportunities or feedback we get from the universe can yield us some pretty cool results.
I never thought I’d travel the world running events for hundreds of thousands of people. I never thought I’d meet my future husband on the lawn at a theatre festival on a day I almost didn’t make my flight back from Atlanta. If you said I’d find the place my soul feels most content while traveling in the countryside of New Zealand, I’d have looked at you with a blank stare. If you told me 10 years ago that I’d be a featured expert in magazines, I’d have said you’re crazy. I didn’t anticipate years ago that I’d become a coach, but alas, happy accidents led the way here.
These things all happened as a result of me rolling with crazy beautiful and accidental opportunities from the universe.
If I had refused the opportunities (which I almost did in every one of the instances I mention above), there’s so much of who I am that…well, wouldn’t be.
So I guess what I’m saying is… The accident’s are where it’s at. The accidents give you the opportunities to do things you never thought you’d do. To shape your life in ways you never dreamed. To find yourself.
Embrace life’s accidents.