Destiny

Do you believe in destiny?

In the idea that nothing happens by chance; that every interaction is part of some colossal but minutely-calculated plan on how each person's life will pan out?

In the idea that you were born here, grew up there, studied in this school, took that first job, and met all those people, because Someone out there knows that's exactly the kind of background and experience you need for the kind of future you will live?

In the idea that people -- me, you, ALL of us -- in all our glorious complexity, intricacy, and uniqueness -- were individually designed, and custom-made in the way we are, to perfectly complement (or conflict with) another hand-crafted person on this earth?

In the idea that I'm right here, right now, the person that I am, because that's just how it is meant to be?

There's truly something tingly, romantic, and awesome in the idea of fate. Yet it can also sound dead-end and tragic, like navigating a car with no control of the steering wheel.