1 post tagged “butterfly effect”

even before breaking my arm i had several conversations with people on my journey about whether things happen for a reason. with all the oddities that came together on my trip i have to believe it's true.  it was as small a moment as having a cycling tour group of four (plus two tour guides) when the usual size is twenty, or that perfect timing where i was with someone at just the right time to help me out.

in fact, i've joked that i had guardian angels throughout my journey: doctors on my cycling trip (i should have brought them to berlin), making a new friend just as i got on an overnight train in italy (only to hear horror stories after),  being able to stop making so many decisions when i got to munich (plus a long hot bath), breaking my arm while staying with best friends (also, translators and fabulous caretakers), given warm grandma-knitted socks and a fancy designer sling from my german family (oh, and all the yummy food!), and then the new friends in amsterdam that magically appeared (seriously) at just the right time to keep me company, pepper my meal, and whisk me off to the airport. even my last stop before home showered me with good friends who took care of me when my arm swelled up and carried my backpack (which started light in berlin and somehow got heavy again).

it's like the butterfly effect where one change makes new elements fall into place. it's all very unpredictable and i can't say i really know every moment of change nor every reason. especially when it comes to my arm. some say it was to slow me down, but i was already doing that on my own. this whole trip was about learning from other people's eye opening moments and taking a chance to travel while i could. others say it was to force me to let someone else take care of me, but i'm still not doing a good job of that. yes, yes, i'm still stubborn. but i'm getting better!

i do believe one reason has been to have a chance to look at life another way. this is my designers brain at work. i have a whole new appreciation for my limbs and for those who take on the daily tasks of life without all of them. perhaps someday all my knowledge from this experience will work itself into my design projects.

in the meantime, i'm back in san francisco staying with one of my guardian angels while i resettle into the city. there are many posts i didn't get to make along the way but i'm sure most of you will hear about them at somepoint. plus, photos will emerge eventually and tell a whole nother tale.