Serendipitous Moments

There are moments in life that can be described as serendipitous. Moments when we meet new people with whom a deep sense of connection naturally forms, sometimes in the most unexpected circumstances. Or moments when we cross paths again with people at different turning points in our lives. At the time, we don’t always understand the meaning of these encounters, but we sense that something is happening — a kind of magic, or the presence of something greater than ourselves — in the very way these serendipitous moments settle within us as they unfold.

My life seems to have been shaped by serendipitous moments for as long as I can remember. Perhaps, from a young age, I was particularly attuned to the importance of the human connections we create and the experiences they bring into our lives. I have always paid close attention to the people I met and made a conscious effort, over the years, to nurture those relationships.

When Life Weaves Connections

At 13, I met a 14-year-old boy from Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. He was visiting the Tracadie area to take part in a broomball tournament. At the time, without cell phones or social media, connections took a different shape. After an initial meeting at the Tracadie shopping centre, a few conversations, and a visit to the arena, we became pen pals. For nearly two years, we wrote letters on lined paper and exchanged photos.

Through those letters, I discovered Newfoundland through his words, leaving a lasting impression. Years later, at 19, while attending a student conference in St. John’s, I thought of him. I looked up his family in the phone book and, after a moment of courage, placed a call. I ended up visiting him, warmly welcomed by his family, who introduced me to their corner of the province.

Although our relationship was never romantic, that friendship marked the beginning of my deep attachment to Newfoundland — a province that still holds a very special place in my heart. Years later, we reconnected through social media. My friend now lives in the Northwest Territories with his young family. I know that if our paths were to cross again, the welcome would be just as genuine.

I also think of a young woman from Edmonton whom I met at 17 during the national Junior Achievement conference (CANJAC) held in Cape Breton. We connected over a few days, convinced our paths would soon diverge. Yet, to my surprise, I crossed paths with her twice more during key moments in my academic journey, each time in different contexts. In just a few years, our paths had crossed three times. I have no doubt they will cross again someday, through our professional lives or community involvement.

Another serendipitous moment arose in a professional setting. While working for IDP Foods in Toronto, I developed a friendship with a colleague deeply involved in the film industry. She often spoke to me about her friend Richie, a film director. Imagine my surprise years later when, while watching a Netflix series called Delhi Crime, I recognized the name of the producer and creator: Richie Mehta. It was the very same Richie I had met back in 2004. The world is small, isn’t it? I am still connected with that friend through social media.

These unexpected reunions give me the feeling that I have “landing points” — friends scattered across the world. I also value being that person others can count on. A few summers ago, a former colleague was stuck on the tarmac at the Greater Moncton Airport during a family trip after her plane had to make an emergency landing. She knew she could have relied on me had the situation required it. Sometimes, simply knowing that a friend is there is enough to bring comfort.

Savour Serendipity

All of these moments point to one truth: we never truly know what life has in store, nor how the people we meet along the way may one day help us — or how we, in turn, may be there for them. Savour serendipitous moments. They often arrive exactly when we need them, or offer us the precious opportunity to give back in return.

Sometimes, life surprises us gently: a hand extended, a leap of faith, and the feeling of being carried at just the right moment. Serendipitous moments often take the shape of invisible, yet deeply supportive, connections.