OP-ED: The power of serendipity
“The best discoveries are made when one is searching for something else”-Horace Walpole
One of my favorite words, loaded with meaning and wonder, is serendipity. The word has an interesting origin that has nothing to do with being calm (serene) or foolish (dipity).
In 1754, the English writer and politician, Horace Walpole, first coined the term. He suggested adopting serendipity after reading “The Three Princes of Serendip,” an English fairy tale. The story involves discerning the nature of an unfamiliar camel. Walpole pointed out that the heroes in the tale “were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of.”
A working definition of serendipity is “the occurrence or development of events by chance in a beneficial way.” The use of the word has expanded over the years in delightful ways and is now quite common to explain diverse situations.
The word can be associated with scientific breakthroughs, where accidental discoveries have led to new insights or inventions. In romantic tales it can simply mean being in the right place at the right time. It has been used to define any situation of “active luck” where chance encounters take place.
Some illustrations help to explain the reach of serendipity. A famous example in the field of science involves the fortuitous discovery of penicillin by the Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming. Fleming returned from a summer vacation to find a mold had contaminated his petri dishes. Fleming later wrote, “When I woke up just after dawn on September 28, 1928, I certainly didn’t plan to revolutionize all medicine by discovering the world’s first antibiotic, or bacteria killer. But I guess that was exactly what I did.”
In 1974, a researcher at 3M was inspired to create a bookmark that would stick to his church hymnal without damaging the pages. He created a “microsphere adhesive” that got the job done. In short order, his team realized that the sticky paper could be used in a business setting to create temporary notes. In 1980, 3M began selling the product as “Post-it.” It soon became one of the most popular office products in the world.
Serendipity occurred when Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays while experimenting with cathode rays after noticing a glow on a nearby fluorescent screen. Percy Spencer was working on radar technology when he noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket had melted due to the microwave radiation. This led to the development of the microwave oven.
Thousands of aging men were overjoyed when Viagra, originally developed as a treatment for heart conditions, was found to have unexpected effects on erectile dysfunction. Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered pulsars while working on a radio telescope. He noticed unusual repeating signals that turned out to be rapidly rotating neutron stars. The list of scientific serendipity is long and demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the creative process.
Those who favor romantic-comedies may remember the 2001 film “Serendipity.” Jonathan Traeger (the actor John Cusack) meets Sara Thomas (Kate Beckinsale) in the New York Bloomingdale’s department store. Both try to purchase the same pair of gloves, and they are attracted to each other. Unfortunately, both are already in relationships. Sara comments that fate’s “little signals” determine many of her decisions. After having lunch at a restaurant called Serendipity, they each take one of the purchased gloves and go their separate ways.
Humorous close encounters do not result in a reunion. Finally, they again meet by chance at the Rockefeller Center skating rink. The couple reunites, along with the pair of gloves, and celebrate at Bloomingdale’s. The circle of their serendipitous meeting, missed connections, and true love is closed.
We have all heard the GEICO commercial where the famous green Gecko explains how he came up with the insurance company’s celebrated slogan, “Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance.” The Gecko tells us that his first slogan was not catchy enough. The idea of “15 minutes” was an unexpected discovery of a good idea that came to him “through serendipity.”
In everyday life, examples of serendipity happen all the time. Being aware of the concept can remind us to stay open to the unexpected. It helps us to embrace the twists and turns that each day presents.
Consider finding your favorite book while at a bookstore to purchase something else. Discovering a needed $20 bill in a coat you have not worn in several years. Working as a waiter and having one of the patrons offer you employment that becomes a lifelong career. Each of us can come up with life-affirming examples of serendipity.
My spouse and I were winding up a theater trip in New York City when we became the unexpected bearers of serendipity. In the hotel elevator we met a mother and young girl who had come to the city from Colombia to celebrate the girl’s birthday. They were eager to see the Broadway show “Hamilton” but were unable to get tickets. We had two extra tickets and were overjoyed to transfer them to the couple. Serendipity never felt so good.
All too often, organization and fear of change make it difficult for serendipity to enter our lives. We are missing a valuable component of being human by restricting the possibility of spontaneous events. Serendipitous occurrences can alter our lives for the better.
Gary Stout is a Washington attorney.