It’s an age old question as to whether or not things happen for a reason or if we just happen along, living out the consequences of our choices. Is there such thing as fate? Are we just acting out some predestined screenplay? Do we make our own paths? Is there such thing as luck? People can argue both sides. Often, the answer comes down to an issue of faith, really, but since I am not the most religious person, I guess I don’t leave the luxury of being able to push everything off on God and hope for the best. Eventually I guess I will find out if I am wrong, but for now, I think I will just lead a happy life and believe that the paths I take are much like a ‘choose your own adventure’ book. It’s just a REALLY big one with enough twists and trails to make me think that what I do with my life writes my own future.
Mathematically, there is only a finite number of things that I can do with myself, so that right there should prove that I am not in complete control. Justifiably, however, my upbringing, morals, and the characteristics I exhibit only allow me to do a fraction of what is possible. That leaves me with a limited number of options. So I choose to just make the best of things. I do not know, nor will I ever find out in this life if I am in the right career field. I won’t know what would have happened to me if I didn’t allow the influence of people around me to change certain behaviors. I will never find out if the magazines I stumbled across when I was a child corrupted me or make me more confident about myself as an adult. I just take things a few steps at a time (I am only so good at chess, so 12 moves ahead just isn’t a feasible option for me.)
I accept that I have made mistakes in the past. I do not harbor on them. I simply look back occasionally and tell myself that maybe I was stupid and yes, occasionally I look at things I have done and think that I would not be where I am today had I not gone that route. Then again, maybe I would be… Curious thing, this concept of fate. If I stopped and thought about whether or not I would have six pack abs right now if I had not moved and stopped going to a particular gym, who is to say that the place may not have just shut down, causing the same result? Truth is, we will never know.
That is why you have to make the best of the situations you are in, or actively do something to make them better. I wholeheartedly believe that you should not just leave things to chance or put too much faith in any one thing. Always have a backup plan, always move forward, never let things just continue on because they are going ‘ok.’ Even if it’s impossible to make your own destiny, at least have a hell of a time trying. It beats the alternative of sitting there wishing that things would change. I don’t know too many people that have gotten anywhere interesting by just taking handouts. Live your life to the fullest. Just be smart about it. If it makes you feel better, pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that something was ‘just meant to be.’ You might be right in the end. Just keep this thought in the back of your mind: If you never try, you will never know. If you know, then you always have a reason.
~ B
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