Syzygy [noun]: the nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies (such as the sun, moon, and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system

I subscribe to the Merriam-Webster website’s Word of the Day daily email (so nerdy, right?), and ‘Syzygy’ was the word of the day on 13 Dec 2015. I had never heard of this word before, but thought it looked and sounded cool. I liked its meaning too.

What it reminded me of, though, was that I have always thought of relationships as being like a syzygy. To find AND remain with that special someone, it’s as if all the celestial bodies and stars must be aligned in this cosmic line. It’s no use just finding that person. The right person at the wrong time and place is, at the end of the day, the wrong person too.

I was at a Christmas house party at a colleague’s home. Almost everyone there was one half of a couple. It was sweet seeing small loving gestures – the guy with the arm around the girl, one reaching out to hold the other’s hand, another putting a hand on the other’s thigh. It also made me sad that I haven’t been able to find that for myself.

Lucky are the ones who have found relationship syzygy; it’s something to be treasured and held on to. For those of us still searching for this elusive configuration, bonne chance!