What If People Come Into Our Lives for a Reason

How chance encounters can change everything

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I find it interesting that Indians living in the USA tend to pretend they didn’t see you, another Indian, at first sight.

Not sure about the psychology behind this brush-off, but I’ve noticed it far too many times; I believe there is a pattern here.

I used to find this confusing and a bit unsettling.

It’s not just among those who have just arrived from India for work or studies, and those who have been here for a long time, but also among north and south Indians.

Oh yes, subtle racism exists among Indians too.

I have heard “You don’t look like a typical South Indian” far too many times from other, educated Indians, to understand that lighter skin color does elevate your status for some weird reason.

Then I met Simran.

When I first met her at a PTA meeting, she wasn’t friendly.

Our kids and we were the only people of color in the entire second-grade class; however, other than a polite hi, we didn’t say much to each other.

So, imagine my surprise when one day she stopped her car to speak to me while I was taking my daily walk around the neighborhood. She asked if she could join me.

Thus began a beautiful, impromptu friendship that carried us through some difficult times, including Covid and my divorce. She was a rock to me — a friend, counselor, and confidant. After a few years, her husband got a job in a different state, and they moved. We still stay in touch.

I believe she came into my life for a reason.

Through our walks and conversations, she added much value to my life and helped me see things from a different perspective, which I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed.

Similarly, my other close friend, Josie, told me a story about how a chance meeting with someone online changed her life and theirs.

My friend Josie suffers from migraines. The other person was a homeopathic doctor who listened to her symptoms and prescribed some medicine, which he then sent to her.

For the first time in years, she got some relief from the headaches.

Later on, she discovered he was in a tough situation because his wife was diagnosed with stage three cancer.

She immediately connected him with another friend, a cancer survivor, who helped him with valuable information regarding her treatment and the doctors who were part of her journey.

Josie shared that maybe this was the whole purpose of the chance meeting — strangers crossing each other’s paths for a brief moment to provide friendship, comfort, a helping hand, or to teach us something we otherwise wouldn’t have learned about ourselves.

For instance, I had never considered that writing would one day become an important part of my life until a friend, a former English teacher from my support group, gave me the idea.

Pat said I have a knack for expressing emotions. Why didn’t I try writing? She thought I’d make a good writer.

You have to understand that for many of Indian origin in my generation, creativity is an extracurricular activity, to be done in one’s free time or to add to a college application.

One had to focus on working hard, getting good grades, and a job preferably in the IT, medical, legal, or banking fields. Everything else was secondary to the main goal.

I never knew there was a storyteller in me until Pat encouraged me to explore it.

I also doubt I would have taken that first hesitant step into blogging had it not been for her suggestion and, more, her faith in my ability.

So, had I not found the courage to join a support group post-divorce and feel safe enough to express my emotions, I would have never connected with Pat. Likely, I wouldn’t have discovered my passion.

These experiences make me feel life is full of random encounters.

Some pass unnoticed while others appear exactly at the moment when they’re needed.

The ones that change us stand out. And when we connect those moments later, it does make us go wow because we see the “reason” emerge from these seemingly ordinary encounters.

Whether they are fate, chance, or something in between, their impact on us goes far beyond the moment when they happen.

Do you think people come into our lives for a reason?

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