Sunday, June 6, 2010

SERENDIPITY IS A STRING QUARTET

Don't even try to figure out the title of this post before you read further. But I wanted to tell you the story of an amazing set of circumstances--though in fact, these kinds of things have been happening in my life with some frequency since my release from prison 21 months ago.

The first event in this series occurred last week. I got a new coaching client, and my favorite kind--someone who already has a lot of prosperity consciousness and a successful career and is living her passion. Her name is Sarah Paul and she is a cellist and the founder of a string quartet in Atlanta www.AmatiMusic.com.

I should mention that in my entire long life, I have never before known or even met a cellist.
The next event was on Friday night, when I at the last minute realized it was the monthly film night in a new series begun last month at Unity San Francisco. I decided to go into the city to attend. It was a double feature, and the first film was a lovely movie with a theme about death being an extension of life, and some other sub-themes, including one that might not be immediately noticed, but was significant for me: How we need to find our own true passion, and not rely on what others think is the best path for us. It was about a young cellist whose symphony orchestra was disbanded. Unemployed, he goes back to his home village from Tokyo and takes a job preparing bodies for burial with a ritualized hands-on bathing staged in front of friends and family. And it is obvious that despite his love of music, this is his true calling.

It is a Japanese film by director Yojiro Takita, starring Masahiro Motoki as the cellist and Ryoko Hirosue as his beautiful wife. I was quite taken with her quiet beauty and the astonishing way she has a repetoire of smiles to illuminate all sorts of emotions.
The next day, I found out Departures won the 2009 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

And the last serendipitous event (these things usually run in threes, but who knows whether another one may be waiting in the wings?) came about because my theatre historian friend Bonnie Weiss called me yesterday to invite me today to a show she had a couple of tickets to. It's called Opus and is being staged by the acclaimed professional Theatre Works company in Mountain View, just down the road from my home in San Bruno. Imagine my amazed surprise when I Googled the title and discovered this description:

An internationally famous string quartet finds both harmony and dissonance in this smart, funny, and compelling study of artistic passion. Forced to find a new member just days before an appearance at the White House, they are caught in a crescendo of talent and personality, their collaboration tested and their art insecure. A behind-the-scenes look at the world of great music, this intriguing “dramedy” proves that making art and living life have many a measure in common.

And you can be sure there will be a cellist in this string quartet, and probably a lot of cello music during the show itself, which I am headed for in about two hours as Bonnie picks me up.

What is the significance of this string of cello related coincidences? Who knows? And this just brought up the thought that maybe one more such event is in the offing, which would make for a serendipitous string quartet of my own. Serendipity is described as happy accidents of fortunate discovery. I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to ponder these events, which my dear friend Rupa Cousin prefers calling "synchronicity". Another coincidence related to the first event--my new client Sarah Paul was, while a student at the Manhattan School of Music, a client of Rupa's for her Alexander Technique work, and they have fond memories of each other.

Is it any wonder I find life infinitely interesting and continue to awake each morning with robust expectations?
Everything is really connected. Even to the extent that I got my whole life theme of "Robust Expectations" from Rupa's illustrious cousin, Norman Cousins.
Jerry

And don't forget to also check out my prosperity blog, where you can also download my free ebook, The Moneylove Manifesto.