I don’t really believe in fate. Fortunate — and unfortunate — things that happen to us by chance are often a direct or indirect result of choices that we have made or because of the nature of who we are as individuals.
Earl is a procrastinator who, with the flimsiest of excuses and reasons, puts off things he doesn’t like to do or doesn’t feel like doing right now.
Not really. But I do think that things can be predicted with a high degree of confidence.
I do think that if you keep doing the same things you are likely to get the same results. Until the situation changes. Eg. newspapers doing the same thing is leading to declining advertising sales at the moment.
Mike,
I used to feel I should be doing more. I’m trying to train myself out of it. That’s why I like jokes and cartoons like this. I’m still thoroughly involved in life but I no longer worry about whether or not what I’m doing is “useful”.
bikehikebabe,
Earl is the fellow in the cartoon. I’ve now explained that in the post. There’s no reason anyone who doesn’t look at the cartoon regularly should know that. Thanks for pointing it out. 🙂
Evan,
Yes, adaptability is a survival trait in this rapidly changing world.
I’m not sure newspapers can do much about advertising sales. Too many people are getting their news from the internet now so the more readership declines the less advertisers are willing to spend on newspapers. We still subscribe to the Wall Street Journal even though they’ve raised the rates to over $400 a year because of the decrease in advertising revenue. Someone has to pay.
fate or is it chance that brings you in contact with whatever, whomever, whichever or is it just ****-ever (you decide what the **** stand for.
i know if I hadn’t come into contact with a good physiotherapist who advised me about certain aspects of my balance problems that last weeks’ ‘trip over and fall down’ may have been a lot worse…
I know if I hadn’t had such a good but young personal trainer when I first joined a Gym and lost a lot of weight, my chances with the ‘trip’ yet again might not have been so good.
I know without the support of various people in my life, things might have panned out much differently in the early 2000s (before the above) these people and a good many others would never had intervened/fate/****-ever…
But is it fate for something totally different…
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
I am by training and knowledge an Advaitin. A very strong reason for many things happening in all creation is the law of karma. This is wrongly interpreted as fatalism whereas it is simply the law of nature that an action results in a reaction and generates an ongoing cycle of such occurrences. An Advaitin as well as a Zen Buddhist believes that “Events happen, deeds are done, but there is no individual doer thereof.”
My friend “snakelady” (cares for 50 some snakes in her house), is always referring to Karma for everything bad that happens. She is saying, “They’ll get theirs.”( Rummuser that’s so an American expression, maybe you haven’t heard of it.)
Cathy,
Your comment reminds me of the saying, “It’s better to be lucky than good.” The trick is to notice and appreciate the good things that happen to us. Apparently studies have shown that increases our chances of becoming lucky again, mostly because it makes us more aware and we take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. It makes sense to me.
Rummuser,
How does that philosopher apply to Islamists? Are there no doers there?
bikehikebabe,
That must give snakelady some comfort. So many people are prejudiced against snakes and kill them when they get the chance.
Thank you StressToPower. I was kidding above when I said what happens to me is Fate. This made me take notice. I stepped up my exercise, stretches, weight lifting which will make me strong. I’ve slept like I haven’t in months the last 2 nights. Thanks!
No. After the initial re-action subsides and you realize that there is no doer thereof, you calm down and accept that too.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Hell. =-.
Rummuser,
For me, of course, the fun is to use the emotional energy of that initial reaction to do something constructive. For me ranting is a waste of valuable energy. DIfferent people like different things. 🙂
fate or co-incidence just struck again this last week…
I was at the bus station waiting for #233 to Midtown but I was only going to Owairaka to see my doctor.
An older Polynesian lady asked me if I was waiting for the bus that goes to Stoddard Rd and I said something along the lines of – it doesn’t go around into Stoddard Rd, you need the #249. Though if you are going to the Richardson Rd end you can alway walk.
She said, OK I that is what I will do….”I missed the last bus and now I am late for my doctors appt. I was supposed to see Gary at 10am”
I was gobsmacked and said “I have to see Gary at 10.30am…”
anyway we travelled on the bus together, I didn’t know her and her me. But by the time we got there, we knew each other names. I let her to go the receptionist first…they just put her in the queue.
We both had to get flu’ jabs! I had an appt for mine but she didn’t…I didn’t expect to see her again as we went in opposite directions. She must have gotten out before me, because when i went to get my presciption meds she was just getting hers.
We ended up coming back on the same bus…together, like old friends! We got back to New Lynn and then we discovered we both had to go to the Post Office! So at this point she decided I should go first 🙂
I left her at the PO and I’m not sure I will ever see her again but I will not forget her name…it’s probably not spelt like it sounds but it’s ‘forgetti’ 🙂 she had lots of jokes about when she was younger but she always says to people “remember forget-me-not and you will remember” 🙂
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
I am “gobsmacked” reading your comment. Glad I’m not due for a “flu jab”. I love reading the names of your streets. Your “Uni” life is fascinating. And the yarn shop & pics of needle work you do is fun. Thanks!
If you have certain illnesses, or are a certain age you can get a free ‘flu jab’ – I have Asthma so I’m eligible for the free one.
I’m not sure if this one covers the ‘swine flu’ but apparently they are expecting trouble from that again…
Happy Easter, it’s Good Friday here and I am basically doing nothing! A bit of this and bit of that but I don’t intend to leave the house (I’m not properly dressed) !
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
I don’t really believe in fate. Fortunate — and unfortunate — things that happen to us by chance are often a direct or indirect result of choices that we have made or because of the nature of who we are as individuals.
Earl is a procrastinator who, with the flimsiest of excuses and reasons, puts off things he doesn’t like to do or doesn’t feel like doing right now.
Unfortunately, there’s far too much of that tendency in me.
.-= Mike Goad´s last blog ..Sunset over Canton Lake, Oklahoma =-.
I used to kick myself for not getting done what I want. Now that I love myself, I let me “get away with murder”.
Just now I watched Jay Leno (recorded) while I ate & ate– & ate. All nutritious, but still a no-no. I’m not taking responsibility. It’s just FATE.
Mike, who is Earl; your son?
Not really. But I do think that things can be predicted with a high degree of confidence.
I do think that if you keep doing the same things you are likely to get the same results. Until the situation changes. Eg. newspapers doing the same thing is leading to declining advertising sales at the moment.
Mike,
I used to feel I should be doing more. I’m trying to train myself out of it. That’s why I like jokes and cartoons like this. I’m still thoroughly involved in life but I no longer worry about whether or not what I’m doing is “useful”.
bikehikebabe,
Earl is the fellow in the cartoon. I’ve now explained that in the post. There’s no reason anyone who doesn’t look at the cartoon regularly should know that. Thanks for pointing it out. 🙂
Evan,
Yes, adaptability is a survival trait in this rapidly changing world.
I’m not sure newspapers can do much about advertising sales. Too many people are getting their news from the internet now so the more readership declines the less advertisers are willing to spend on newspapers. We still subscribe to the Wall Street Journal even though they’ve raised the rates to over $400 a year because of the decrease in advertising revenue. Someone has to pay.
fate or is it chance that brings you in contact with whatever, whomever, whichever or is it just ****-ever (you decide what the **** stand for.
i know if I hadn’t come into contact with a good physiotherapist who advised me about certain aspects of my balance problems that last weeks’ ‘trip over and fall down’ may have been a lot worse…
I know if I hadn’t had such a good but young personal trainer when I first joined a Gym and lost a lot of weight, my chances with the ‘trip’ yet again might not have been so good.
I know without the support of various people in my life, things might have panned out much differently in the early 2000s (before the above) these people and a good many others would never had intervened/fate/****-ever…
But is it fate for something totally different…
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
I am by training and knowledge an Advaitin. A very strong reason for many things happening in all creation is the law of karma. This is wrongly interpreted as fatalism whereas it is simply the law of nature that an action results in a reaction and generates an ongoing cycle of such occurrences. An Advaitin as well as a Zen Buddhist believes that “Events happen, deeds are done, but there is no individual doer thereof.”
If that is believing in Fate, so be it.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Internet Censorship – Google Exits China. =-.
My friend “snakelady” (cares for 50 some snakes in her house), is always referring to Karma for everything bad that happens. She is saying, “They’ll get theirs.”( Rummuser that’s so an American expression, maybe you haven’t heard of it.)
Cathy,
Your comment reminds me of the saying, “It’s better to be lucky than good.” The trick is to notice and appreciate the good things that happen to us. Apparently studies have shown that increases our chances of becoming lucky again, mostly because it makes us more aware and we take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. It makes sense to me.
Rummuser,
How does that philosopher apply to Islamists? Are there no doers there?
bikehikebabe,
That must give snakelady some comfort. So many people are prejudiced against snakes and kill them when they get the chance.
Thank you StressToPower. I was kidding above when I said what happens to me is Fate. This made me take notice. I stepped up my exercise, stretches, weight lifting which will make me strong. I’ve slept like I haven’t in months the last 2 nights. Thanks!
bikehikebabe,
I’m glad it helped. Exercise is my favorite mood-lifter and is crucial to my sleeping well too. 🙂
No. After the initial re-action subsides and you realize that there is no doer thereof, you calm down and accept that too.
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Hell. =-.
Rummuser,
For me, of course, the fun is to use the emotional energy of that initial reaction to do something constructive. For me ranting is a waste of valuable energy. DIfferent people like different things. 🙂
fate or co-incidence just struck again this last week…
I was at the bus station waiting for #233 to Midtown but I was only going to Owairaka to see my doctor.
An older Polynesian lady asked me if I was waiting for the bus that goes to Stoddard Rd and I said something along the lines of – it doesn’t go around into Stoddard Rd, you need the #249. Though if you are going to the Richardson Rd end you can alway walk.
She said, OK I that is what I will do….”I missed the last bus and now I am late for my doctors appt. I was supposed to see Gary at 10am”
I was gobsmacked and said “I have to see Gary at 10.30am…”
anyway we travelled on the bus together, I didn’t know her and her me. But by the time we got there, we knew each other names. I let her to go the receptionist first…they just put her in the queue.
We both had to get flu’ jabs! I had an appt for mine but she didn’t…I didn’t expect to see her again as we went in opposite directions. She must have gotten out before me, because when i went to get my presciption meds she was just getting hers.
We ended up coming back on the same bus…together, like old friends! We got back to New Lynn and then we discovered we both had to go to the Post Office! So at this point she decided I should go first 🙂
I left her at the PO and I’m not sure I will ever see her again but I will not forget her name…it’s probably not spelt like it sounds but it’s ‘forgetti’ 🙂 she had lots of jokes about when she was younger but she always says to people “remember forget-me-not and you will remember” 🙂
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
I am “gobsmacked” reading your comment. Glad I’m not due for a “flu jab”. I love reading the names of your streets. Your “Uni” life is fascinating. And the yarn shop & pics of needle work you do is fun. Thanks!
no probs, bikehikebabe.
If you have certain illnesses, or are a certain age you can get a free ‘flu jab’ – I have Asthma so I’m eligible for the free one.
I’m not sure if this one covers the ‘swine flu’ but apparently they are expecting trouble from that again…
Happy Easter, it’s Good Friday here and I am basically doing nothing! A bit of this and bit of that but I don’t intend to leave the house (I’m not properly dressed) !
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..lucky charm saviour =-.
Cathy,
What a great story. Thanks!