Tuesday 13 April 2010

Something Lovely: Missed Connections.

This afternoon I sat in the garden. A rare enough occupation in my busy week, but it was such a glorious, sunny day that I couldn't help but collapse into a deck chair for a short while and watch my two  tow-headed charges romp around in the sunshine.
I was listening to something that was so heart-stretchingly beautiful that I had to write a whole separate post about it here. And the combination of warm sunlight and such heavenly music was so heady that I found my mind drifting, dreaming, thinking about these wonderful illustrations by Sophie Blackall that were brought to my attention this morning by dear Nancy from the b in subtle. And I decided that it was time to reinstate my regular 'Something Lovely' post which had sadly lapsed somewhat.

Find these potential sweethearts here.

Sophie finds these lovely people on Missed Connection websites and turns her marvelous hand to capturing them on paper. You can see lots more over on her blog Missed Connections

What is it about these stories that I find so arresting? And often, in their short few lines, so moving? We all have these stories in our lives, and I often think about how chance has put us where we are, with the people we have in our lives. Chance.

Think about it. 

Find this perfect profile here.

To think, Jay, we would not be here together if...you hadn't gone to my friend's party. Or even before that, if your father hadn't taken a chance on a girl who might have let him down, and put her in the very place that you were. Does he know the part he played?

And what of all those dear connections we have made with those incredible, special people we know and love? The combination of our decisions and theirs bringing us to that magical point where we connect.

I could list so many friends, and wonder and shake my head in amazement. Right down to all you wonderful blogger friends. What are the chances any of us would have met 'in real life'?

Find this mysterious chap here.

And to what extent is it fate? Do we have any control over any of it? It is so heartening to think about all these millions of human connections being made, and missed, every day. 

So there is hope and love out there. And there is people like Sophie who breathe life into these little stories, and today as I sat in the sun I wasn't marveling at the beautiful view, or the gorgeous sunshine, but I was marveling at the human spirit, and the spiderweb of possibilities that we have all around and about us.
And the strength of the human heart. Because I do believe we hear one another's, beating through the daily traffic and toil, and I do believe if we remember to pause and listen to one another we just might be amazed.
And we just might fall in love.

21 comments:

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Or fall in love all over again.
Lovely post!

Jay said...

A brilliant post - I had forgotten the genius of missed connections - so glad we didn't miss our connection...

Anonymous said...

so beautiful, Ciara. thanks for this post.

Jodi Kendall said...

these illustrations are so lovely!

Martin said...

I wonder how many of us think in this way Ciara?

Some of the timings, coincidences and connections I've experienced have, over time, changed my view of life and the world we live in.

Thanks for such a thought-provoking post.

Annah said...

Thank you Ciara, these words are so true for me today..

Unknown said...

Ciara, when you post all these things lovely, it reminds me of how all these creative people are so individual. That everyone's brains work so uniquely. So complex and yet so simple. Makes me want to have my coat collar put up by some gentleman with a throat tattoo. Wish I could find my own brain's complexity instead of my simpleton's mind.

Rima Staines said...

Wow, this is such a wonderful brilliant idea :) I find the work compelling because it peeps into a little edge of life where hearts blossom.
Love to you and yours m'dear x

Elaine Prunty said...

Sophie's work is amazing...i'm off to follow her...

Ciara, i know you'd be far to modest and shy but i think your next "something lovely" post should just have a photo of you ,

I love the idea that fate and destiny plays a hand in all our connections , i'm reminded of a really lovely new connection I've made every time i fill the teapot and put it's new little hat on....

and thanks so much, you have me blushing berry red with your very lovely comments , they make me very happy ,.

A. K. Francis said...

Yes, yes, yes! So good to see this - to know that people (some, at least) are still paying attention. As always, you have a way of saying just the right thing. "... we just might be amazed." *Sigh* Yes. Exactly.

Thank you, Ciara. You don't know what a gift you are to the realm of the blog.

Anonymous said...

You should get your hands on 'The Celestine Prophecy'...this is the kind of book that can change your whole outlook on life and the relationships that we forge with each other and coincidences of life and the little things that move you from one point in your life to another....I know that after you have read this and have taken a small step back to take a wider look at your life that you will 'get' what the whole kit and kabooddle is all about!!!

Elizabeth said...

What a wonderful post. Thank you for all the terrific links. Some made me think of Maira Kalman and her work for the New York Times blog and newspaper. Do you know her? If not, I think you'd really like her work.

Unknown said...

Truly lovely post! Thank you ;-)
xoxo

Stephanie V said...

Interesting post - the illustrations are wonderful as well as the words.
I do marvel at how opportunities, or connections, seem to appear. The trick is, I think, to actually make the connection, accept the opportunity that's presented in that quick second of intersection in time. Love the ideas and implications from this discussion.

Rebecca S. said...

Thank goodness for the artists that breathe life into these split-second moments of connection and misconnection, and give them their due; for I believe that 'real life' is more about them than we give them credit for. If that makes any sense at all :)

And by the by, my friend Kate of the tulip festival, married into a Dutch family of bulb flower growers, and started the festival to share the two glorious weeks of the outdoor growing season. So where would the festival be if not for that fateful day when Kate and her husband met in the hospital where Kate was occupational therapist for her husband to be's newly injured father? It boggles the mind yet it happens every day!
Cheers,and I'm going to take more photos today.
Rebecca

marty, sharon and pearl said...

hey ciara....sounds like you've definitely got your creative and imaginative mojo back....very inspiring and thought provoking.

sorry you're having trouble with seeing my snaps...not sure why that is as i'm uploading the same way as usual (i think!)....let me know if you have problems again.

sx

Ariella said...

This is so awesome! These paintings are amazing, there really is something intriguing about "missed connections". Thanks for this post!

Emma said...

Gorgeous stuff. Beautiful and poignant.

Beck said...

Thanks for this thought provoking post. I loved these illustrations and the stories and thoughts behind them. I often wonder, what it.. I guess some of the beauties of life are wondering, hoping, dreaming x

Acornmoon said...

I love these illustrations, I admire the style and the combination of words, choice of font, colour, everything in fact. Thank you for highlighting a great talent.

Relyn Lawson said...

This is absolutely, positively something lovely. A wonderful, wonderful discovery. Thank you for sharing it.