Fate. The development
of events outside of a person’s control, regarded as determined by a
supernatural power. Something that’s destined to happen in a particular way.
I’ve always thought of myself as a believer in fate.
“Everything happens
for a reason.”
“If it’s meant to be
it’ll be.”
“Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled
with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't
always like.”
I particularly like that last one from Lemony Snicket.
But in saying I believe in fate isn’t that just like saying that we’re
not really responsible for the path our lives take? That everything is
predestined? That’s why when I start pondering this subjective topic
for too long, I start to pick holes in the theory.
Surely my life would turn out differently depending on every
little decision I make every day. Or is every decision I’ll make already
written in the stars? As a SATC fan I’d like mention something the wise Carrie
Bradshaw said; “People say ‘everything
happens for a reason’, these people are normally women who are sorting through
a break-up.” In this case, is fate just a cop-out, a way of relinquishing
control so we don’t have to feel guilty about whether the choices we make are
right or wrong? I’m really not sure…
As much as I think about it, I can’t wrap my head around whether
decisions choose us or we choose the decisions. I guess I could test the theory
by doing something totally brash tomorrow like shaving my head, getting a
tattoo and moving to the Bronx to see if my life path would change... But it
seems that cheeky fate knows me too well, because there’s not a chance I would
do that.
Fate 1, Krissie 0.
Photo by Anon.