Have you heard of this old Persian fairy tale called The Three Princes of Serendip? It is about three men who were on a mission but they always found something that was irrelevant but needed in reality.
How much do we understand the word “Serendipity”? When I say understand, I mean how much do we truly realize and comprehend this word, through our own experience?
I always had this thought that if you want something, work on it hard enough, some day you’ll get it. I do still believe that. But now I’ve changed my mind a little. I have come to realize what you used to think “best” for you, the things that you were eyeing on, things that occupied your heart days and nights, might in the end turned out to be something that is NOT really “best” for you. Let me share with you my own little experience here…I have mentioned before that I was dying to get into Graduate School in Country B, the country where I did my undergraduate degree and my final year of HS. I had applied for many institutions and universities for scholarships. I wasn’t offered any, well, maybe a partial offer (if that counts). So much so I really wanted to stay there for a higher degree, I had to leave with disappointment and doubting my ability for the next few years. I didn’t understand the meaning of “serendipity” there then. But now I do. Why so? I found a door opening for me for Graduate School approximately 3 years later I left Country B. It was a serendipitous event that happened in one fine afternoon when I bumped into Mr. Nice who apparently had quit his job heading for Country D (where I am now). He was the one who made me aware of other possible places to pursue my dream goal. Although I haven’t granted my degree yet, I must say I am really glad that I am doing my degree here instead of Country B. I am not saying Country B is not good; but for sure I know I would miss out many different experiences that could only be experienced in this continent if I remained in Country B that is over at the other side of the world.
Then there are times we are sweating ourselves working towards certain things in our mind. We may or may not get any closer in achieving this particular thing; surprisingly we find something else during the process instead. The discovery of Penicillin is the best example to illustrate this. The Scottish biologist and pharmacologist, Alexander Fleming was investigating the properties of a type of bacterium called Staphylococcus. But Fleming was a pretty careless person (like me); his lab was usually in chaos (yeah, I am like that too!). Although I am as careless as Fleming and my work place is as messy as his lab, I am not as brilliant as him. The latter factor really explains why I am still nobody struggling to just grant my degree. Anyway, his contaminated bacterial culture dishes were growing a fungus, which he later on isolated and identified as Penicillium. It is this serendipitous discovery of pencillium that opened a big door for discovering one of the most important antibiotics against gram positive bacteria – penicillin! Without this antibiotic, millions would not have survived.
Few days ago, an experienced old Professor was sharing with us the magic of serendipity. He shared with us some of the stories about serendipity from a career point of view. He was trying to get the message across of not letting getting too attached of what we are going after or even feel despair of the negative outcome because serendipity does happen. I know exactly what he meant. More than half a year ago, or I should say all these years, I had never thought about meeting this special wonderful someone. But hey, I am really glad that serendipity did step in to lend a hand! :)
♥ every page of my imagination
