Lucky by Choice

Have you ever had a moment where everything in the universe seems to align in your favour? It may be the shortest or rarest of moments, but I believe it does happen when we let it, even in the midst of very difficult and trying circumstances beyond our control.

This photo was taken early one morning at our annual Rover reunion camping weekend many years ago. The dew and the sunrise were both fleeting, but following the spontaneous instinct to get up for an early morning walk meant being in the right place at the right time and receiving this unexpected visual gift, as well as an inner sense that all was right with the world. 

We can paralyze ourselves with the conviction that we are unlucky—that we are not receiving the rewards we deserve—while others are blessed with better luck and seem to get everything that they want out of life. While it's true that life often doesn't go the way we expect, our sense of being unlucky can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we are entirely focused on what we deserve and how we are working tirelessly to get it, we are likely to miss the surprises and treasures that lie on the unexplored side roads of our lives.

Creativity grows from the juxtaposition of unexpected elements; if we control and plan and decide every aspect of our lives based on what we already know and expect, creativity has no place to blossom. Sometimes the greatest blessings spring unexpectedly from the most challenging ground, and creativity thrives with some adversity, some "bad luck" that might make us step back, change direction and look for the good on another path.

Have you ever had a moment where everything in the universe seems to align in your favour? Just open your eyes and look around; you might be standing in front of one right now.

Fault Lines and Stress Fractures

Montreal is famous for potholes.

I am no engineer, but my understanding is that they are formed by heavy traffic on roads constructed using substandard methods and materials, and exacerbated by exposure to extreme weather conditions, including the use of salt to burn through winter ice. These cracks widen, deepen and collect dirt, water and debris the longer they are neglected; and their prevalence dictates that we drive more carefully in spring to avoid damage to our vehicles; traffic slows even further in summer as all of the main arteries to our island city undergo major repairs... every year.

It's easy to blame all the traffic jams and bent rims on someone else, but we all make choices that contribute either to the problem or to the solution. Elements like weather are beyond our control; but someone is making choices about materials and methods of construction, maintenance and repair; and as users of the system, we all have choices whether to obey warning signs about speeds, weight restrictions and detours... either way, we will live with the results every day.

How does this reflect the choices we make in our work and personal lives? Are we building things to last or taking shortcuts with the expectation that we will fix it all later? And if we have to assign blame—which, in my opinion, is a relatively useless waste of time and energy unless followed by substantive learning and change instead of just passing the buck—whose fault is it, really? 

I have a quilt design under development which symbolizes this kind of progression, with a working title of Repression / Rage / Reconciliation. I'll keep you posted on developments; it's currently only under construction in my mind... and I want to do it right the first time. :)

UPDATE: Interesting juxtaposition between my post this morning and another one in Montreal Gazette today re vanity plates...check it out here...