Serendipity. This may just be my new favorite word. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, serendipity is the ability to find coolness or bliss in everyday occurrences. Serendipity is random and only rears its lovely head when you are not expecting it. One of my yoga classmates has set a goal to seek out serendipity in her life, and it got me thinking about the phenomena. I guess I never realized it, but I think I have an aptitude for making these desirable discoveries by accident. For instance, check out the serendipity I discovered in my life over the past 24 hours.

• Going for a walk outside on a 43-degree sunny day in northeast Ohio. Can I just tell you that it felt downright tropical after the subzero weather we had last week? The sky was bright blue and full of the most amazing cloud formations. I wasn’t expecting it to be so nice, but, damn, was I glad that I went out for some fresh air and got a taste of the serendipitous sunshine.
• Hanging out with my three-month-old great-nephew, who squeezed my hand and smiled at me when I made a funny face. His smile will keep me going all week long.
• Seeing the smile on my niece’s face when I told her she was beautiful.
• Getting a free sample of milk chocolate-covered Fritos  at Malley’s; now that was a fortunate and unexpected salty-sweet surprise! Who knew chocolate and Fritos would make such a fabulous pairing? (I guess Malley’s chocolate probably tastes good on just about anything!)

Serendipity can also mean good fortune or good luck. Yeah, I’m really liking this notion.

To me, serendipity is a lot like santosha, one of the niyamas (niyama is one of the eight limbs of yoga), which means finding contentment in your life. Santosha is achieved when we find gratitude for all we have and do not have and enjoy our lives! I plan to write a great deal more about santosha on The Daily Downward Dog, as this is a practice I want to live each day.

Here’s hoping you stumble upon some serendipity today (and every day), and if you’ve had a cool, serendipitous encounter recently, please share the details!

“By contentment, supreme joy is gained.” —Patanjali

P.S. Thanks, Roz, for the serendipity inspiration!

Image: Alexandra Elefteriadou