This morning, I asked my husband for his definition of “Synchronicity” (and specifically, whether he thought I could use it as the Subject Line for this post). He stated that, in his view, “Synchronicity” required a conscious effort to “Synchronize” something – for example, synchronizing watches or synchronizing schedules. I asked him whether he thought that if it seemed that “A Higher Power” had synchronized things, if that was still “Synchronicity.” He thought not – then again, English isn’t his first language.

I thought it had something to do with Carl Jung – so looked it up.

Sure enough. Synchronicity means “the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.”

And yes, it is related to Dr. Jung (whose works I admire).

Why the discussion about this word? Well I have to say, that yesterday was a perfect day to demonstrate being in – if there is such a phrase – “synchronous flow.”

I managed to hurt my back last Wednesday, so was not going to go in to San Francisco to the Marathon Team (Team In Training) workout yesterday. I had to get up early, however, as I had a deliverable for a law client that I wanted to get done before the “day started” – so I was on the computer at 6:00 a.m., cup of Earl Grey in hand.

I scrolled through my emails, and saw one from a good buddy that I’ve never met in person – Scott Smith from MotivationToMove.com. He said that he and his wife/partner-in-crime Joi were going to be in San Francisco, that night at 6:30 p.m….! (They are from Florida.)

I wrote back immediately, trying to get more info as to what they were doing in “my town,” but pretty sure there was no way that Scott would get the email. Surprisingly he pinged me right back – turns out he had sent out an email about their trip to the “Left Coast,” but it was while I was in Vegas, so it’s likely in the emails that I STILL have to read from being away for a week.

I decided to completely re-organize my schedule to be sure that I didn’t miss them that evening. What an amazing “coincidence” that not only were they in “my” town, but also that I had happened to open that email on a weekend! (I’m not much of an email person on the weekends – one has to have SOME time away from the email monster.) Scott emailed back that they were actually going to be doing one of the boot camps at Crissy Field that morning, which got me thinking. And moving.

“When you stop existing and you start truly living, each moment of the day comes alive with the wonder and synchronicity.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

I realized if I got the law work done quickly, I could actually get out to the Team In Training workout (which was going to be at Sports Basement/Crissy Field), and might be done right around when they were finishing the boot camp. I said as much, and went into hyperdrive to make it work out.

I got to the workout a bit late, but everyone was still in the parking lot, so I was still set. I went out with the “beginner” group, figuring it was best to baby my back. I wasn’t exactly sure whether Scott had gotten my email about somehow having a rendezvous at Crissy Field.

Once I got running, my back loosened up and I started to feel better. Instead of turning around where I thought I likely would (3-4 mile mark) I decided to go to 5. I actually felt really good at 5, and was going to go to 6, but something “strongly” made me want to turn around. So I did.

Running back on the road at the very far end of the Marina (we had run up into the Presidio), a PT Cruiser drove past. I thought someone yelled “Sandy” – but I don’t know anyone with a PT Cruiser. I looked up though – then as I focussed, I thought “Wow, that looks a lot like Joi from MotivationToMove.com” (remember, we’ve never met in person, even after five years). Then she shouted “It’s Joi!” I couldn’t BELIEVE it!

“We do not create our destiny; we participate in its unfolding. Synchronicity works as a catalyst toward the working out of that destiny.”
― David Richo, The Power of Coincidence: How Life Shows Us What We Need to Know

They pulled over at the next safe place, and as I was jogging towards them, I couldn’t figure out WHERE they had come from! Down that end of the field is really only Fort Point – and Scott had said that they were staying with his son Austin in the Dolores Park area…What was up?

They said they were going to go to one of the Boot Camps down on the beach, and I invited them to come to Sports Basement afterwards. I wasn’t sure whether they would really have time to do it, etc. – but I hoped so.

As I jogged towards Sports Basement, I started thinking about Synchronicity. Not only had I “happened” to open that email, and “happened” to have a workout right where they were going to be, but they “happened” to be going to a workout there too, then I “happened” to turn around at the 5 mile mark so that I could “happen” to be on the road precisely as they “happened” to be coming from a direction I never would have expected them to be – the dead end at Ft. Point….? (Turns out that they had arrived early to Crissy Field and just “happened” to drive down towards the Ft. Point area to see what was there – precisely as I “happened” to be coming by. I was wearing my Ironman shirt and of course am 6’2″ – but they were as surprised as I was as they came up from behind me that the “runner” they were just going to pass might be…me!)

“At various points in our lives, or on a quest, and for reasons that often remain obscure, we are driven to make decisions which prove with hindsight to be loaded with meaning. (225)”
― Swami Satchidananda, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The Team finished our Honoree Potluck at Sports Basement, and I started walking down toward where I thought the boot camp was being held. About 1/2 way there, I realized I’d left my favorite water bottle in the chair back at Sports Basement. So I walked back – and helped them clean up a bit after retrieving my bottle. Just as I started to head out again – Scott, Joi, Austin and his girlfriend Dona walked into Sports Basement!

Synchronicity….If I hadn’t left the bottle, then stayed to clean up as “karmic thanks” for finding it, I would likely have missed them.

Joi wanted to look around Sports Basement (who wouldn’t! An athlete’s finest dream). She tried on – then bought – a few things while Scott and I caught up. It was great catching up and I also was excited that Joi was able to shop without Scott having to “just wait around” – I know how that goes.

“As soon as we notice that certain types of event “like” to cluster together at certain times, we begin to understand the attitude of the Chinese, whose theories of medicine, philosophy, and even building are based on a “science” of meaningful coincidences. The classical Chinese texts did not ask what causes what, but rather what “likes” to occur with what.”
― M.L. von Franz

Once we got outside, they asked if I’d like to come with them for breakfast in Cow Hollow. I asked Austin whether they’d like to go over to Marin instead – since they didn’t have plans until the afternoon. I figured it would be fun to show Joi and Scott the “other side of the Bridge” but didn’t want to step onto any plans that Austin had for his dad. Austin said that he was just as glad to get “out of the City,” and so they followed me across the Golden Gate and to Tiburon – where I grew up, and also where the SFYC (one my clubs) is located. I figured we could get breakfast there looking back at the City.

They followed me and we were about half-way there when I got a “feeling” I should call to make a reservation. It was a gorgeous day, and I was afraid there might not be a table for us. When I got a hold of the Restaurant, they said that there was a wedding planned for that evening, so, in fact, 1/2 of the outdoor dock and all of the dining room was reserved. I had a sinking feeling – I felt upset that I would have “dragged” them all the way there and then not have a place to eat! While the maitre d’ told me that it was “first come first served” at the remaining outside tables and the tables in the bar area, he also said that “if we got there in about 10 minutes,” it was still early and we would “assuredly” get a seat at one of the plum tables outside. We would “just happen to be” hitting the club “right between” the early morning “coffee and danish” crowd and the “members rush brunch” crowd.

Synchron….Yeah, ok, you know what I’m going to say here, right?

We arrived at the Club about 12 minutes later, and on a gorgeous, sunny (a little windy) day, with only 1/2 of the usual outdoor tables available, there wasn’t a soul out on the deck. We took the perfect table right in the middle, with a beautiful view of Corinthian and Belvedere Islands as well as the city.

No more than about 10 minutes after we had arrived, EVERY other table was full, as well as all the tables in the bar.

Luck, or Synchron…(smile)

“All of us, whether or not we are warriors, have a cubic centimeter of chance that pops out in front of our eyes from time to time. The difference between an average man and a warrior is that the warrior is aware of this, and one of his tasks is to be alert, deliberately waiting, so that when his cubic centimeter pops out he has the necessary speed, the prowess, to pick it up.”
― Carlos Castaneda

We had a great lunch – everyone even agreeing to have a glass of champagne to toast our FINALLY meeting up in person! I kept marveling at how things had worked out. As Scott said with a laugh, “Timing is everything!” We discussed when he used to live in the area in the ’80s as a DJ – and such memories as KFRC and Dr. Don Rose. (If you’re local and old enough to remember either of those, you’re smiling about now!) Scott told me about the website AirChexx that has exactly that – air checks from those days. I have linked one HERE from Dr Don Rose and KFRC.

After a really lovely brunch we said our goodbyes and I led the way back out of town. I realized just before we hit Blackie’s Pasture that we hadn’t taken a photo together. I am forever forgetting to take photos until it is FAR too late to do it. As in, once I get home and am in the shower, it “dawns” on me. (What is that mark in the tile? Yes that’s where I bang my forehead against the wall…(wink).) I called Joi’s cell, and we were able to pull off and take a photo (above). Once again, I marveled at how “synched up” the day was – I am NEVER able to remember to take a photo while it’s still actionable.

Even after I got home, the day remained “synched.” We are working on the house, and after I took a shower, H and I were able to hit a couple of stores to look for materials, including making it to one in Berkeley (where we found the perfect slate we were looking for) just 10 minutes before it closed. We were even in the part of town closest to our favorite sushi place, so were able to get there for an early dinner. We even got home with enough time for me to put together the pot roast I’d promised to bring my Mom and Dad for their dinner today. Though I conked out early, H turned the roast off for me, making sure my “synchronous” day remained perfect and complete!

“According to Vedanta, there are only two symptoms of enlightenment, just two indications that a transformation is taking place within you toward a higher consciousness. The first symptom is that you stop worrying. Things don’t bother you any more. You become light-hearted and full of joy. The second symptom is that you encounter more and more meaningful coincidences in your life, more and more synchronicities. And this accelerates to the point where you actually experience the miraculous. (quoted by Carol Lynn Pearson in Consider the Butterfly)”
― Deepak Chopra, Synchrodestiny