An Undiscovered Pearl

I have also put a pearl in a seashell onto my mandela. Pearl usually represents a symbolic of wisdom and well known for its calming effect. The formation of a pearl begins when an irritant slips its way into the shell of particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. As a natural defense, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Taking some time, layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a beautiful pearl is formed.

This pearl forming process resembles my growing up journey in various aspects. The irritant is similar to some hurdles and struggles arising from different life incidents that I have been encountering. I could be defensive in times of anxiety, yet my core self becomes more and more solid by opening up to and going through different life experiences. I happened to see myself as “a pearl left in the boundless sea” (i.e., 滄海遺珠) that I have to uncover my strengths and uniqueness without the need to seek for recognition of others.

Serendipity and Happy Accident

Jung stated“Synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have eyes to see.” It helps to derive value from coincidental events and assist one in overcoming negative thought patterns and self-limiting beliefs. I have associated synchronicity with another word “Serendipity” that I first seen from a 2001 romantic movie. Serendipity is when you stumble on a happenstance when you least expect it. I love to experience the idea of a “happy accident” when I am doing watercolor painting. It seems like a paradox when we used to associate “accident” with an unexpected negative event that usually ends up in disappointment, damage and injuries. Doing watercolor painting is never easy, especially when you intend to control the flow and mixing of colors. Though sometimes the colors may not go into the ways I would like to see, the creativity and openness allow me to accept and even transform those unplanned incident into something special. The willingness to go with the flows of life events and the openness to see thing in different light allows me to stay attuned to my changeable surroundings, especially when I learn to derive meaning from every “chance encounters”.