Sydney Avey

Dynamic Woman — Changing Times

Joy for the Journey: A bit of serendipity

Nov 7, 2016 | Word study, Writing life | 2 comments

JoyJoy is a moment

Happiness is a state of being, but joy is a moment. We can work ourselves into a happy place, but joy is an unsolicited moment of grace, independent of the place we find ourselves, happy or sad. In the happy chances we call serendipity, joy might be a tiny seed buried in the moment.

Last week, I struggled with an email to someone I don’t know who wants to collaborate on a project. It seems we are at cross purposes. I looked for a way to sign off without offending. I chose the words Be Well.

What exactly does that mean? I Googled it. Google thought on the matter for awhile, and then came up with one entry by way of definition. It was a tweet from a Nigerian gospel singer–how random is that? The tweet said:

Your journey is too unique to take anyone’s word for it.
[I] set you free to follow your own path;
to find your purpose in God.  

Perfect! Captured the spirit of what I was trying to say. Intrigued, I Googled the tweeter, Femi Jacobs. If I was going to quote him, I wanted to make sure he was legit. He appears to be. His creds identify him as a film and TV actor, a speaker, and a singer. He was educated in mass communications and marketing management in Lagos, and trained as a pilot in South Africa.

I looked up a song he performs, Orun Si, and listened to it on You Tube. It provided a lovely interlude in my morning.

Maybe it wasn’t the universe answering my humble question. Maybe it was just an algorithm popping up the best shot it could make at a definition of a concept. But it gave me a lift to know that there are people out there who wish good things for others.

I wish you joy.

Be well.

 

2 Comments

  1. Beth

    Hi, Sydney – it is Beth from Best of Eastern Europe trip. I wanted to tell you that I came on your post as I was being bombarded with one more campaign ad….the not so joyous part of living in a swing state. More importantly it was after a weekend we celebrated Gordon’s Dad’s life. He lived with integrity guided by the golden rule. We knew he would “be well” when he passed last month, and I believe he did, too. I think, since you have given me permission once before, I am going to borrow your post to share for devotions for our choir rehearsal when my turn comes up!
    Once again, thank you, Sydney!! Any more tours coming up?

    Reply
  2. yosemitesyd

    Hi Beth,

    How great to hear from you! Feel free to share anything you wish from my blog. It gives me great joy to know that my words are being used to lift spirits. Haven’t done a Rick Steves tour since Paris with my daughter and granddaughter, but Joel and I did a Road Scholar trip To Costa Rica this summer with our 10 year old grandson and our son. What a beautiful country.

    Fondly,

    Sydney

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Crafting a Novel Around a Real Person: An Interview with Sydney Avey – WRITE NOW!

Crafting a Novel Around a Real Person: An Interview with Sydney Avey – WRITE NOW!

Categories

Archives

© Sydney Avey

Site designed and maintained by

Web Design Relief.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This