It’s no accident that I’m starting off today’s post with some free associations about “Accidents,” as follows:
- I’ve had several car accidents in my long life.
- None of these accidents have seriously hurt me or anybody else.
- Every time I have an accident, I feel shame.
- Accidents happen.
- In case any of my readers are accidentally thinking I’ve recently had a car accident, I have not.
- It’s no accident that I start off many of my posts with free associations because I’m a psychotherapist, and psychotherapists often find accidental free associations very meaningful.
- Because of my own perfectionism (which is probably no accident), I can judge myself harshly even for the smallest of accidents.
- Some people believe there are no accidents, and that everything happens for a reason.
- I thought of “Accidents”for the title of today’s post because one of the photos I took yesterday was an accident.
It’s no accident, here and now, that I’d like you to guess which of these photos was an accident:
Ooops! No matter what I try, this morning, I cannot get that one accidental photo to show up in this blog. I wonder if that’s an accident?
It’s no accident that I’m feeling no shame about this latest accident, because every day in every way I work on myself and others letting go of shame about accidents.
Here are all the non-accidental photos I took yesterday:
Which of those photos remind you most of “Accidents”?
Also, I suppose it’s no accident that the last photo, above, includes the photo I took by accident (located on the computer screen behind our sometimes accident-waiting-to-happen cat, Oscar).
If you leave a comment below, would that be an accident?
Non-accidental thanks to all who helped me create this post about accidents and to you — of course! — for reading it, accidentally or otherwise.
Some of my budget recipes have come about by accident. 🙂
A wonderful example of a wonderful accident! Non-accidental thanks to you.
If a cat had an “accident” on my MBA, it would use up all nine lives in an instant. . . and that would not be an accident.
Thank you for this non-accidental comment, Ray.
Also, it’s no accident that I’m asking what “MBA” stands for there.
That would be my MacBook Air😊
NIUT (Now I Understand, Thanks)
It’s certainly no accident that your photos are as fun as always!
Every time you show up here, Kim, it’s fun and that’s no accident, either!
Does Oscar blog?
No, but he has a Facebook page. Thank you for your non-accidental interest in Oscar’s writing capabilities!
I don’t find it accidental in any way, that I run head long in to your blog every day.
Was the poetry in that wonderful comment an accident, Colleen?
It was indeed Ann. 🙂 How wonderful an accident that was. 🙂
Its not accident that I am here and commenting this morning. I love the seal photo bomb!!! xo
I love the way you bomb my blog, Val!
Here’s to a year full of happy accidents
I’m here, full of happiness that you commented.
The cup full of what appears to be borscht might be an accident since borscht is usually served in a wide shallow bowl. Then again that might have been intentional. Since borscht is Russian it reminds me of one of my favorite accidents. Having breakfast in a Russian hotel I smeared a generous dollop of orange marmalade on a slice of bread, took a bite, and realized it was actually caviar.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience but I enjoy being able to laugh about the accident now.
It’s always a pleasant experience reading your thoughts, Chris. You accidentally mistook some Emergen-C for borscht. I’ve been drinking that in the morning so I don’t accidentally catch a cold.
I had to share the seal photo bomb on my facebook wall a few weeks ago. Awesome, fun post. Thanks Ann. And happy new year to you. May your accidents be predominantly happy ones!
I love the happy accident of our connection here, Miriam!
Beautifully said!
It’s no accident that I am leaving a comment for you today. Happy New Year.
It’s no accident that the comment you left made my New Year Happier.
This is an argument I had with the tenets of atheism: whether accidents occur for a reason or not. I no longer get into these type of discussions, but before, I did. Atheism believes in accidents, but in the natural kind. They believe in natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. What atheism does not believe in are the accidents that “destiny” supposedly has in store for you. In another words, accidents are not “destiny”, or a “moral lesson”, as religious people tend to believe. This is #8 of your list: “Some people believe there are no accidents, and that everything happens for a reason.” Most of my family tells me now that everything happens for a reason, yet this is not the kind of thinking that existentialists hold. I believe that if everyone is responsible for their acts, the accidents are at least kept to a minimum. The belief that accidents have a reason is also the foundation of faith, and in the long run, redemption from wrongdoings. I’ve realized that this is an ongoing battle that goes on whether one is religious or not, or whether one has faith or disbelief.
#4 Accidents happen. This is why I’m not an atheist, but I’m still an existentialist. Why are accidents from Nature always respected and feared? Somewhere in our psyche we know Nature is not kidding when it complains about something, when it has earthquakes, hurricanes, droughts, what not. However, when there are accidents from humans, it is always a “shame” as you say. Punishment and incarceration follows. Yet, we feel we have more control over humans than over Nature, because we have guns and jails, not to mention technology.
The breadth and depth of your thinking is no accident, Maria. Thanks for sharing all these insights here today.
I love that photo bomb too. I’m glad point 2 came straight after point 1. I would have worried otherwise.
It’s no accident that you are a lovely, thoughtful person, Alex.
This reminds me of a movie I watched recently called Happy Accidents. Sweet and a bit kooky. The movie, not your post. 🙂
I will look for that movie, Janey, because I like sweet and kooky! Your comment made me happy.
Love the photo bomb…still smiling about that one. And what is that lovely foamy purple stuff in your coffee cup, Ann ???
I have some lifelong beliefs about the “there are no accidents” theory, that have proven true for me. I once broke my foot on the way into a job interview, had to postpone it. Another opportunity presented itself in the meantime, so I dropped the original interview. A few months later, a scandal was made public that involved the position I’d considered. It seems my broken foot allowed me to dodge a bullet. It’s just one example of many. I’m a believer. 💕
I’m a believer in you, Van. And that foamy purple stuff is Emergen-C. It’s no accident that I drink that when I fear catching somebody’s cold (my boyfriend Michael has a bad cold, which he caught by accident).
It’s no accident that I come visit your post almost every day (unless I oversleep) before I got work.
Have an accident-free day Ann!!!!
I had an accident-free day, SD! I’m so glad I didn’t have an SD-free day.
Awwww – that’s so nice of you to say!!!!
The cat on the keyboard is definitely an accident waiting to happen!
Oscar sits on my keyboard all the time and so far, no accidents. As always, I’m glad to happen upon your comment here, Jan!
Oh I love that penguin photobomb!
Oh I love to see you here, Elyse!
Darn Word Press!
WordPress deleted me from your reader by accident!
I think it was intentional. Word Press loves to mess with us all.
No accidents in WordPress?
None.
Smiling … not by accident.
Love your non-accidental smiles, Maureen.
I count myself very lucky to have never had a serious car accident. But I have a bit of a reputation for hitting objects that aren’t moving. Fire hydrants. Columns in garages. Parked buses. But they’re all accidents I swear! And I would never lie to a psychotherapist other than my own. Truth.
The truth is, Jill, that I am THRILLED to see you here today. Welcome back!
Hmm. Oscar’s paws (not pause) on the keyboard might be an accident waiting to happen. But he looks really focused–which is an argument against anything he does being an accident. As for myself, my worst accidents (banging my head on corners of tables, for example) came when I was very young. I’m quite sure, though, that I am not an accident waiting to happen. Nor is it an accident that I come here from time to time for an attitude adjustment. 🙂
Elouise
I had many accidental and non-accidental smiles as I was reading your comment, Elouise. Thanks for adjusting my attitude, perhaps accidentally.
Unfortunately, I would get in trouble for adding to that thermostat note “how about 61? 89?” It would turn into a game straight from “The Price is Right”.
I love games and I love this comment, Holly.
It’s no accident that I like you, Ann!
It’s no accident that I like you back, Sunny!
As the late artist, Bob Ross, would say: “We don’t make mistakes. We only have happy accidents.” That truth was found often in his beautiful paintings.
-Alan
I happily find truth in your beautiful comments, Alan.
Ok I thought this was a post about 1100 accidents but I was wrong not a post about 1100 accidents which is good having that many accidents would not be that great just saying. I have not had an accident in a long time unless it includes falling over flat on my face which I did just before Christmas.
I wish you would visit me 1100 more times, Joanne, and not by accident. <3
No accident from me for certain to read this blog but hmm how could I be so sure ? 🙂
I’m so sure I’m glad you read this blog and that is no accident!
I like the zebra and the seal. My most spectacular accident may amuse: http://derrickjknight.com/2013/11/17/death-of-the-brown-velvet-suit/
As usual, Derrick, your accidents do not disappoint.
🙂
I love that mug and I think that photo bomb with the seal was no accident!
It’s no accident how much I love you photo bombing my blog, Lisa.
Sometimes I think that it’s by accident that I don’t have more car accidents.
It’s no accident that I relate to this, Robert.
Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
hello ann koplow its dennis the vizsla dog hay it luks like oscar has the saym attitood towards kompyooters as my sister saya!!! ha ha ok bye
Now Oscar feels less alone, Dennis. Thanks to you and Saya.