Hi Michael.

You know, whenever I get a question about synchronicity, it almost always deals with love — meeting one’s destined partner.  As I discuss in my book Active Consciousness,  life’s critical junctures — meeting one’s beloved, getting an important job, achieving some major life realization — is often accompanied by uncanny synchronicities that seem to “bring” you there.  There is often a sensation of excitement, joy, and peaceful knowing that occurs as well. For example, in the case of the story of how I met my husband Steve (described in Active Consciousness), the whole period of time was  suffused with an excited, almost electric, quality. In addition, both Steve and I somehow “knew” that we were destined for each other within a week.  All this, despite the fact that I had experienced years of unsuccessful relationships.  We didn’t get married for another 2 1/2 years, but I remember looking at myself in the mirror that first week, and saying to myself: “Don’t sabatoge this one!”  By the way, Steve and I have been together now for 36 years.

My simple answer to your question is:  It’s too soon to say.  In your case, your answer will probably only be known in hindsight.  But given the number of “uncanny coincidences” you are experiencing with this woman, I would stay alert to the possibility that this might indeed be kismet. Are you feeling an unusual sense of joy and electricity in the air?

On the other hand, there are two other explanations.  One is that you both live in the same small town.  You never noticed her car before because you hadn’t seen it in a photo you paid attention to — as you had on the dating site.

Another explanation is that this woman had noticed you before, had become interested in you, and was essentially “being in the right place at the right time” in order to get to know you.  This may sound like some kind of nefarious con-job, but it might be totally innocent and earnest on her part. She just likes you! Once again, hindsight will tell the full story.

Of course, we can also con ourselves when it comes to love. This isn’t true for your story, but in some of the letters people have written to me, they have essentially conned themselves into believing that seemingly-meaningful coincidences indicate that a specific person is “the one” — despite the fact that their love is not reciprocated or the person they love doesn’t even know who they are!  I tell them this:  you can’t make someone love you. In fact, it is spiritually unwise to try to do so.  If a love connection is kismet, it will most likely eventually happen.

I hope this answers your question.  And I hope it does work out for you.  In the meantime, enjoy life’s mysteries!