Happenstance, coincidence, fortuity, serendipity

What is the word you use when you encounter an event that is out of the ordinary in the best possible way? Let me introduce you to a complete stranger who absolutely made my day, but also left me with a mystery word at a book event a few weeks ago.

Our little town has an adorable new bookstore called Finch & Fern Book Co. The owner, Katie, was kind enough to host local authors for a holiday event. I had just set up my table and was talking with my parents who stopped by when two women walked in. The one lady points to the large poster I have of the book cover on my table and her mouth drops open. (It’s always kind of awkward at book events because you want to engage with people while giving them proper time to simply browse and let their eyes explore. ) I smiled at her and with a stunned look on her face she slowly said, “I just bought this book.” I thanked her and she said, “I didn’t know the author lived here and I had never heard of this book.”

She proceeds to tell me how she was from North Carolina, visiting her sister, bought the book from Barnes & Noble for her grandsons, one of which was facing some bullying issues. She said the title, The Kindness Machine, simply spoke to her. She also said that she looks for little, happy things to occur in her life and the book and our meeting in the bookstore was her happy occurrence for the day. She used a word from another language to mean coincidence that I spent hours trying to look up after the event and failed. This woman seemed to radiate joy and was so genuinely appreciative of the story. I feel terrible that I didn’t even ask her name or ask her to write down this mystery word that means happenstance, coincidence, fortuity, serendipity. She went on to buy another copy of the book so that it could be signed, took a bookmark and said she was going to giveaway the first copy she bought. And just like that…the kindness ripple continues.

I secretly hope this special woman sees this post and simply comments below the word she used.

If you know of a word that means happenstance, coincidence, fortuity, serendipity in another language, please comment below. Be like this lady, look for simple things in your daily life that bring joy and spread kindness. Also, if you see something or someone that makes your day, TELL THEM. My parents loved the interaction with this woman and my mom kept saying, “Well wasn’t that just delightful!”

#thekindnessmachine #bookevent #localauthors #happenstance #coincidence #fortuity #serendipity #kindnessripple