Serendipity is Everywhere | Allyson Apsey | TEDxMcHenry

Summary

The speaker shares a personal journey of embracing serendipity, a mindset inspired by the movie 'Serendipity' and her mother's battle with cancer. Through her mother's resilience and eventual passing, she learns to find beauty in life's challenges, celebrate moments amidst pain, and appreciate the love shared. She encourages embracing emotions, focusing on what's within control, and allowing experiences to shape us into better individuals, highlighting the importance of finding serendipity in every aspect of life.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The concept of serendipity is introduced through a personal anecdote about unexpected life events leading to a significant win.
• 🌟 The speaker's life was profoundly influenced by the movie 'Serendipity,' turning it into a mindset and way of living.
• 🏫 As an elementary principal, the speaker understands the occurrence of unhappy accidents and is prepared with solutions, like keeping extra pants for students.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker's roles as a mother, wife, daughter, and more have given her firsthand experience of life's ups and downs, shaping her perspective on finding lessons in every experience.
• 😢 The deep bond between the speaker and her mother is highlighted, showing the impact of her mother's illness and their journey together.
• 💔 The fear and reality of losing a loved one is explored, emphasizing the importance of appreciating life and the relationships we have.
• 🏥 The speaker recounts her mother's battle with cancer, highlighting the resilience of the human body and the marvels of modern medicine.
• 🤔 The importance of being curious learners is stressed, as seen through the various medical challenges faced by the speaker's mother.
• 🎄 Finding moments to celebrate, even amidst pain, is a key takeaway, as illustrated by the family's Christmas celebration with the speaker's ill mother.
• 🚗 The speaker shares her personal coping mechanism of practicing gratitude during difficult times, such as caring for her mother.
• 😁 The value of humor and finding joy in every situation, even in the face of adversity, is demonstrated through the interactions with her mother post-stroke.
• 💕 The message of always finding a way to share love, regardless of the circumstances, is a central theme in the speaker's narrative.
• 🍀 The idea of finding serendipity in everyday life is a recurring message, encouraging the audience to look for the positive in all situations.
• 📚 The speaker suggests three ways to find serendipity: embracing all emotions, focusing on what's within our control, and allowing experiences to shape us into better people.

Q & A

What is the significance of the movie 'Serendipity' in the speaker's life?

The movie 'Serendipity' marked the beginning of a mindset and way of living for the speaker, where she started to look for the positive aspects and lessons in every life experience.

How does the speaker use the concept of serendipity in her role as an elementary principal?

As an elementary principal, the speaker embraces the unexpected and keeps a stash of pants of all sizes in the office to handle accidents, demonstrating her readiness to deal with 'happy accidents'.

What life-changing event did the speaker's mother experience in 2010?

The speaker's mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010 and underwent surgery to remove a large tumor, during which she suffered several strokes.

How did the speaker's mother's health condition affect the speaker's perspective on life?

The speaker developed a deep appreciation for life as she witnessed her mother's battle with cancer and strokes, which made her realize the importance of finding serendipity in every moment.

What was the unexpected outcome when the speaker's mother's cancer went into remission after the second round of chemotherapy?

Despite the cancer going into remission, the speaker's mother ended up in the ICU on life support due to complications, showing that even positive news can have serendipitous and challenging outcomes.

What modern medical marvels did the speaker witness during her mother's treatment?

The speaker observed the remarkable capabilities of modern medicine, such as machines that took over her mother's bodily functions when her body was shutting down organ by organ.

How did the speaker's mother's health crisis influence the family's holiday celebration?

Despite her mother's poor health, the family was able to celebrate the holidays together, capturing a moment of love and resilience in a photo taken on Christmas Day.

What was the speaker's emotional journey like during her mother's illness and eventual passing?

The speaker experienced a range of emotions including fear, sadness, anger, and gratitude, and found serendipity in the strength and love that emerged from the challenging times.

How did the speaker's mother's death impact family relationships?

The speaker's mother's death left a significant void and led to changes in family dynamics, including a loss of connection with her mother's side of the family.

What are the three strategies the speaker suggests to find serendipity in life?

The speaker suggests embracing the full range of emotions, focusing on what is within our control, and allowing experiences to shape us into the person we want to be.