Serendipity

I had an interesting experience yesterday. I had labeled it my Play Day, and one of my play projects went awry when I could not find the bobbin holder to my sewing machine: a small object but nevertheless essential to the use of the machine. This loss set off a mild depression which grew deeper and darker as I spent hours in search of it like a greedy gold digger panning for gold which was not to be found. I, like the greedy dreamer of hitting pay dirt, only managed to totally disturb everything in the guest room and more importantly disturb my "inner space". The result was that I ended up with more lost than that with which I had begun my search. I had lost my inner peace, my good mood, and I had ruined the planned play day by putting myself in a foul mood.

I sat in my study, looked out the window upon the beauty before me, took several deep breaths and then turned my attention to sending a card to a friend of a friend whom I had wanted to thank for being so supportive of another dear friend and to wish her and her husband, who is ill, good wishes for the coming year, each day as it comes.

My depression had lifted. Furthermore, another friend dropped by with a bulb of a plant to be planted by my pond providing shade for the goldfish from the summer's sun. And then another friend came over and brought me a package from the post office, an errand that I had asked of her so that I could have my play day at home. We three sat together drinking hot tea on a cold winter's day before the fireplace, laughing, chatting and having a great time.

I secretly mused how my depression had completely disappeared, and how very silly it was for me to have been depressed over such a small thing, and how wonderful my play day had become. The warm wishes I had sent the woman, whose card had not yet been posted, were returned to me many times over with the warm companionship of that winter day's closing hours.

I had indeed serendipitously found that which I had sought, though not what I originally had set out in search of, but something of far greater pleasure and value; a true play day.