Do You Believe in Destiny?

The trains were like that in Italy in 1995 too... that was a shocker the first time I sat down, talk about a breeze.

Yes. I believe in destiny. My husband is perfect for me and we were destined to be together. We should have started dating the first time we met... in hindsight it was so clear to us both :) But, 3 years later worked just as well.

Yup. But only for important stuff, not everything. And I also believe in multiple destinies, or a necessary sequence of events that follows one of many specific decisions toward a common end.

But then, I am of the mind that time is an illusion and everything is really happening all at once. Space is just the context we've been given to see things in a sequential order, to show us cause and effect. Remove both of them, and you have reality.

I think about this stuff a lot. My brain is weird, but I like it that way.

I believe we make our own destiny with every choice we make, nothing is pre-set.

Absolutely.

Or I'd have far too many regrets. :)

As it is, in this choose-your-own-adventure that is my life:

- I'm alive, and relatively unscathed
- My son is in my life
- I've loved, and been loved by many
- I know my own mind
- I'm happy

I have sooooo many "almosts" and "might-have-beens" and "stupid moves" in my life... that I really can't look at it any other way.

Is this a very selfish way of looking at things? Sure! But I only know my own choices/dominos/luck, and only in retrospect. Even then, I can never really know what might have been. I just know I'm here right now, and really really lucky to be.

No and yes. I've had things fall together that seemed to be links on the chain of fate, yet I also know that our choices is what really send us on certain paths. Hows that for philosphical thought? Hope you get your power back.

I'll go one step farther. I believe in predestination, i.e. God really does plan the course of our lives. I just believe that no one gets to see that plan until they have completed it. Our ignorance of our own destiny is a very important point. When we think we know where we're going, we might get on the wrong train, and we're more likely to be derailed.

Using Jen C.'s words:

I believe we make our own destiny with every choice we make, nothing is pre-set.

the word "destiny" seems kind of powerless, as you said like being on a train and you have no choice, it's "destiny", wherever it takes you.

i think that god gave us freedom of choice and brains to make good decisions. and i think that good things happen when you work hard, and make good choices.

I believe our destination is destiny, but our journey is made up of small steps, choices, that we make ourselves. And I think we're given clues, small hints and nudges in the direction we're *suppposed* to be going - whether we listen and follow is up to us. That's why we can look back in hindsight and see where we went wrong or why things worked out the way they did.

For instance.....it took us almost 2 years to conceive our first daughter; the doctors could find no cause, it just wasn't happening. Then my husband was offered a temporary position at a great company; it quickly turned permanent and we bought our home. THAT MONTH we got pregnant! If we'd gotten pregnant right away, my husband wouldn't have taken the risk of a temporary job with a baby to take care of...we couldn't have bought our house (or ANY house)...and we wouldn't be able to afford for me to stay home. Things fell into place the way they were meant to, not the way I was planning at the time.

Hi ephie-

For me...destiny is too strong a word somehow...like I did not have 'choices' along the way...and I did...and still do.

But (now at 52) I can see how SO many things that happened in my life earlier...have really 'uniquely' prepared me for where I am now...and some of the 'cards' I have been dealt.

For example...I have (since a young kid) had an affinity for (and friends who have) special needs. I never particularly had a desire for a career in special education per se...but had compassion I guess.

Then...upon marriage (and now ex) stationed in germany...got a job training american child care providers (in centers...and in home based care) in everything from 'ages and stages' to 'positive guidance' to infant and child CPR and first aid. All of those experiences prepared me for the children I had not even imagined I would have. But particularly for shannon...my special needs cardiac kiddo. I was 'perfectly' prepared for 'her'.

I could NOT imagine the medical skills I would develop in caring for her...and I could NOT imagine (particularly post divorce) that I would have to use those skills (O2...feeding tubes...complex meds...talking with docs...serious surgeries)...but I met 'my' peter. And after well over a year of dating long distance...he was diagnosed with cancer.

Again...I found myself 'uniquely' qualified for another challenging situation...

Destiny...not sure.

Divine intervention?? Maybe...

All I can say...is after this many years on the planet...I can look back and feel as though I am where 'I' am supposed to be...

***Having another glass of wine***

lol

Will eagerly read other posts...

Best Luck!
michele/cat

I think some things are "destined" to happen,but not everything. Like it should have happened one way, but it didn't, but it still ends up happening by another way. Does that make sense? I don't know, the more I think about it the more I wonder if its something we hope happens and it does happen that we call that destiny...or if we work at making it happen, then its just us working hard and getting what we want...but whose to say that isn't destiny too?? I don't know, I think I have confused my myself trying to analyze this! Lol!!!

I have never thought if it in the terms of destiny. I believe that every action has a purpose, is suppose some see that as destiny. Ya know they whole a butterfly flaps its wings.....

So I mean is it your idea of destiny that you would ride a train, that would at the point where you are snowed in consider that train ride. That at that point you would still have internet and post this to the board. I answer, with my oh so profound words :p that others read and perhaps the consider...

I just wonder because some people look at destiny as a single event. We were meant to be on this train together. I look at it as a chain of events that rebounds of the other.

So what is your idea of destiny?

As far as seeing the tracks through the toilet hole, I remember that from long ago riding the train a couple of times when I was young....(probably 1960's or 1970's?).....here in the good old USA..... amazing what they did back then!

I believe that destiny is created by the energies we put forth in our lifetime. To sum it up we do create our own destiny, IMHO.

Speaking of cabin fever I'm right there with you. The happiest thing about this current situation for my family is that 1) we have not lost power like so many and 2) not only do my children get to be out of school this entire week my husband also gets the week off, paid. :D

I can tell you do not get the weather you are having often. Really does get
your mind going when you are stuck in the house. Being in the NE we get
stuck in several times over the course of a typical winter. To answer your
question I think we create our own destiny by the things we do.

I believe we meet everyone for a reason and that the right people are around when you need them. I think that God has an ultimate plan for us and that we make choices to get there eventually.

I'm ready to get back to work tomorrow! Hope you got your power back tonight as many of my friends down south did finally!