What's that all about

Chance, luck, fate or just plain coincidence? It happens for a reason, it was meant to be, or part of the bigger picture - a bigger plan (that we are unable to see). These are sayings that I hear and often find myself using. I have the impression that I hear them more than I used to. Sometimes they irritate me.

Was it chance that back in 1987 I agreed to host Dr. Spodek versus staying home and going to the beach, leading to my emigration to the U.S.?

Was it luck that my editor happened into my presentation at a conference with hundreds of other presentations to choose from, and then approached me to write a book?

Was it fate that drew me to choose any one blog from the split second TypePad updates, and then subsequently met a whole bunch of mostly like-minded, wandering souls?

What makes us choose the links from where and to which we bounce all over the blogosphere? Is it a game? Or are our choices guided by something/one else?

My grandmother used to say, "She's been here before," meaning that she could tell that person was reincarnated in some way. Have you seen those kind of people, children, animals? They have wise old eyes that look as though they have seen a lifetime or more. Like Ada. She sits on my desk next to the computer and stares into my eyes. If I do not glance her way, she gently places her paw on my hand and continues to hold my eyes with hers. She seems so wise. Has she been somewhere before?

This bigger plan that someone/thing has for me: Why would they care? But that is hardly the point, is it? The point is that there are all sorts of unexplained mysteries about life that we simply do not know. Being unable to hold still in the discomfort of not-knowing we develop theories. It is not that I rule anything out. I just do not know. It is not that I think only that seeing is believing because if that was the case scientists would not have discovered things like electricity, energy or cures to illness. Feeling and intuition guided many a rational scientist in their work.

I am more inclined to think that we are psychologically motivated to choose the situations we are in. Our old childhood, emotional, memory patterns guide our choices or behaviors. We have a responsibility to get to know ourselves so that we can make kinder choices for ourselves and others. As Martha Graham says: "You have to be open and aware of urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open."

The rest is mystery. I live day by day, moment by moment and have kindness and compassion as my credo. When or if I find out if there had been a plan for me, or if I get to choose another lifetime, so be it. And if not, not. Right now - here and now - I do the best I can to work towards self-alteration and choose self-responsibility.

Gilad once said, "you do what you do and the rest is magic."

Comments

[Alicia]

Beautiful, I love this post. I wonder the same things often. This reminds of a terrific quote I found the other day--'The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.' Albert Einstein

[Tamar]

Thank you for that quote. Perfect fit to us bloggers isn't it?

I am blessed to have "cybermet" you.