I am taking somewhat of a left turn today on this post.

My wife and I have a thing that if we decide to change the conversation in the middle of another one, we should give a signal to the other. In other words, if one of us starts chasing squirrels, we need to let the other person know. We do that by saying “I’m making a left turn” and that means we put on our blinkers and are changing the course of the conversation.

So, I’m making a left turn here.

I belong to Facebook and every now and then you see advertisements for things on suggested posts. With Valentine’s Day approaching, I saw one that was advertising pillows with the saying “It All Began With a ….”, where you filled in the blank. I got a big smile as it brought back the day I met my future wife.

I’d say it began with a dance, but she was more accurate in that it began with a Smile.

You see I met my wife in a nightclub on March 15, 1980. I was there by chance with a bunch of friends and she was there by chance with two of her friends. How we both wound up there is another story altogether, but I asked her to dance with me and she accepted and we have been together ever since.  She always said it was my smile that got her to say yes to my request for a dance. And we have been dancing and smiling ever since.

So, what is the story behind your relationship? How did the relationship with your spouse or significant other begin?

I recommend you ask them that same question when you see them next. It brought up some good memories and reminded both of us that while the road may have been bumpy along the way, it has been one heck of a ride so far. And we are looking forward to the ride ahead.

What’s your ride look like and how did you two start the ride together? Asking these questions should hopefully spark some great conversations.

I also look at life as starts and stops with pauses now and then. How did I get to where I am now? What started my career and the changes I made along the way. If I look back at some of the decisions I made, I can also think of the reason why or the “How Did This Begin” answer. Some call it fate, some call it luck, some call it happenstance, and some call it planning. As my mother always says, everything always turns out for the best.

I know for sure I did not meet my future wife by planning, and I choose not to consider it happenstance.

I know there was some luck involved, but I truly believe it was fate.

There was a plan that we were both part of that made us cross paths. Some of my other life changes have also involved fate. A change of season so some say.

So, the next time you need to make a change, embark on a new season,

Make the choice that your heart and gut tells you.

Fate has a plan for you and you should consider that in your decision. That’s how I’ve been married to the most wonderful women for the past 36 years. And today, I know I am onto something here!

 

Allyn Vaughn