The Magic of the Unexpected
Over a decade ago, I was sitting in a glass sunroom under a dark night sky in Borgarnes, Iceland as dancing lights paraded overhead, shifting from left to right – and right to left – and swirling wildly in between. It was one of the most magical moments of my life, so much so that I stayed up all night to watch this incredible phenomenon.
I had a front row seat to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, courtesy of Mother Nature who had gifted me the performance of a lifetime.
The Northern Lights had been on my “bucket list” for a few years – and it took my then-12-year-old daughter’s growing interest in them for us to finally take action by scheduling a winter vacation on this glorious Nordic island located within the Arctic Circle.
Not knowing what to expect, I was both pleasantly surprised and truly captivated by this extraordinary sight. With just the right conditions – a cold, clear, and frosty winter night in the new moon phase – and some careful planning on my part (I had to do my homework with regard to the peak viewing conditions), I had the golden ticket to this highly sought-after natural phenomenon.
Mother Nature sure knows how to put on a good show. After witnessing them up close and personal, I can say this – the aurora borealis is truly spectacular!
Witnessing such profound beauty prompted me to ponder the wonders I already had access to in my own life. I began questioning whether or not I was allowing myself to experience everything I possibly could in this world – and was I making it easy for myself to do so?
This question led to some deep journal writing as I contemplated the various opportunities I’ve had in my life – and the many creative possibilities that are still available to me if I do my part by fully showing up.
The Magic of the Unexpected
During a recent writing conference, in a breakout session with a well-known fiction author, I was struck by a comment he made as he led us through an exercise on writing powerful endings. He said his goal as a writer was to leave his reader feeling pleasantly surprised to the point that they would proclaim, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming, but it couldn’t have ended any other way.”
It reminded me that while goals are good to have and desired outcomes are the ideal, there is nothing more satisfying than an unexpected gift that you didn’t see coming—outcomes that are better than anything you could have imagined.
I’ve always referred to these gifts as synchronicities, those moments when the universe steps in and gives you something better than you could have ever designed for yourself. This kind of magic happens when you allow yourself to be fully present, showing up for the opportunities that come your way, sometimes out of nowhere.
It speaks to the beauty of the unexpected when you honor the organic twists and turns of your creative path, much like the unpredictable dancing of the Northern Lights. You have no idea which direction they’ll take, yet they give light to a reality that might not have been part of your original plan, but somehow, they take you on a journey that inspires magic and wonder, delivering a creative jewel of wisdom that helps define your next step.
Take a moment to ponder the potential in your own life.
- What’s available to you if you honor the necessary conditions, do a bit of creative planning – and just show up?
- What could you experience – and how could it alter your current state?
- Looking on a bigger scale, how could it influence your creative path?
Life is full of so many wonderful experiences! Give yourself permission to explore life’s possibilities by first believing that you deserve them – and by making a bold choice to show up for what’s already swirling around in your orbit, just waiting for you to experience it.
Here’s to honoring the magic that’s already present in your life – with a gentle invitation to immerse yourself in a world of possibility and wonder.
About Tina Games
