Thursday 17 May 2012

Chance

I am a firm believer in just letting things work themselves out. This attitude takes any decision making out of my hands and if everything ends up in the sewer, I can truthfully say "It wasn't me!"
The obvious drawback to this, is that if things work out well I can't claim credit. "Yeah, I was the one that didn't do anything which led to that happening." Another drawback is that you have no control over the direction your life takes. Sure, it's worked out okay so far, but I can't help but think things could have been somewhat improved if I had taken an active part in the planning of my life, instead of leaving everything to chance.

I suppose that it was chance that Mister Hitler decided to reunite the Aryan race, and chance that dad was just the right age to die for his country and freedom. It was chance that his plane was shot down and he spent the war shaving his head and playing baseball in a German POW camp. It was chance that he met and married my mom after he returned from Europe. It was chance that I was born, in spite of the fact that my brother Steve had already shown mom and dad what to expect from parenthood. It was chance that I was born in a century that had a low infant mortality, good medical care and indoor plumbing.

I haven't set out to let chance take care of my life, it just worked out that way while waiting for me to decide what to do. The first 18 years was pretty easy, I had to go to school. Well, I could have opted to not go to school but then I would have had decided to work. The next few years were spent going from job to job hoping that someone would recognize the jewel in the rough that I am, or that I was. I took a job with the Post Office for a few months and then I would start my life with a plan. Still waiting.

I was wondering what my life would have been like if I had set out to decide my own fate . I think people that do that, find or discover what it is that they want to do in life at a very early age. I don't mean they know exactly, but somehow they find the determination and drive to make decisions and then follow through till they achieve success or failure. Sometimes the failure is necessary for them to carry on. These people are the ones that study in school and work at summer jobs which will carry them further on their life path. They do financial planning and probably planned parenthood. They realize that the path to whatever goal they have set in life may not always be fun and games. Good for them!

Personally, I think life is a crap shoot and no matter how much planning you do, your destiny will eventually force its way out. I am just waiting to see what life has in store for me just around the corner. Hopefully, not a truck with bad brakes or a drunk driver, but what will be will be. Who would have thought I would ever write a blog and actually have fun doing it? What are the chances?

I have been feeling pretty wonkey today, so if when you read this you say to yourself "This sucks!" then you are probably one of those people that don't take chances.
It is entirely possible that when you arrive at the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter might just give you a pop quiz on this blog. Then you will feel like an asshole...won't you?




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