It may seem that these examples are but a remarkable coincidence. However, there is a term that was fashionable several years ago (“synergy”) that is appropriate in describing this type of coincidence. Scientists also have a name and explanation for this phenomenon (“strange attractor”). Those doing research on chaotic systems note that there are many events in nature that seem to pull in energy from outside and establish powerful, compelling, and repetitive patterns. These chaos theorists suggest that most events occur in a random manner. One particular event, however, happens to have a slightly greater impact at a particular place and time than do other random events. As a result of this one slightly more impactful event, the other random events tend to orient around this “strange attractor” event. They become aligned with the orienting event, and a system is established.
One place in a roadway, for instance, might be slightly more indented than any other spot. Water and gravel tend to collect in this spot. The water and gravel, in turn, dig into the spot, propelled by passing cars. The spot becomes a small hole. This hole grows larger, attracting more water and gravel. Soon there is a pothole. The pothole gets filled in, but the newly applied asphalt differs in composition or weight from the old asphalt. Furthermore, there is a tiny crack between the old and new asphalt. These conditions lead to the creation of a new spot and the reemergence of the pothole–now “bigger and better” than before and more resistant to any corrective action.
This same process occurs in our own lives. Seemingly random events occur that hold no pattern. Then one event somehow touches upon old, faint voices in our back rooms that are now slightly louder or less often drowned-out by noise. As a result, we pay a little more attention to this event than we did in the past. Samuel, the “rock and roll” accountant, often had offers in the past to perform at parties and many of these offers were no doubt connected to something in which he was interested. Yet, somehow, this latest offer is particularly poignant since it triggers Samuel’s memories and his rediscovered interest in rock and roll.
Dr. Jane, the basketball playing physician, has always lived near a recreation center that sponsored basketball leagues for older adults. And she has always known, as a physician, that she should periodically leave her office to seek more exercise and recreation. Yet, somehow the time is now ripe for Jane to take action. The wife of Ricardo, our would-be shopper and chef, has undoubtedly asked him to help in many other ways in the past, when her own work began to shift. Yet, somehow, this offer to do more shopping and cooking connected with Ricardo’s recent retirement and his dormant love of shopping and cooking. It also aroused Ricardo’s vague recollection of one particular advertisement and article about a nearby Saturday market, and that motivated him to contract the manager about hosting a cooking class for men.
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