Everything Happens For A Reason

I diverge today from my normal humorous post. My brother-in-law was driving home from work on his motorcycle, when a woman who was not paying attention turned right in front of him. You can imagine the horrible scene that transpired: he went ass over kilter and landed on the asphalt.

Before you tell me what horrible luck I have with cars (see The Kid’s accident #1, The Kid’s accident #2, and The Husband’s tree misfortunate), I think all of America is experiencing a very similar issue. Car insurance premiums are going up because accidents and the amount of money on claims is on a sharp rise.

I’ve lived by the philosophy that “everything happens for a reason” almost my entire life. (Side note: I didn’t know that Christians claim the phrase is biblical.) When tragedy strikes, especially the untimely death of a loved one, that philosophy is often shaken. I think this is an age-old question, actually: why do bad things happen?

Tbh, I’m not a philosopher, I’m not religious, and I’m not particularly learned in the bible or history. So I have no idea the answer to that question. 

But my thoughts have recently been with my best friend Cheryl, who passed away over a year ago. Cheryl was learned on the bible, and she was also deeply religious. She would more than likely be able to tell me all the reasons why bad things do happen to good people. She was also the expert at bad things happening to her.

For those of you who weren’t newsletter subscribers then, she was wheelchair-bound due to Cerebral Palsy and several car accidents of her own. She also had so many bad things happen in her life that I couldn’t imagine what was going through her head.  She still smiled, though. Everyday. And she still loved. Everyone. Even the bad people who did bad things.

My brother-in-law is also wheelchair-bound now, but, thankfully not for too long. The Husband and my other brother-in-law were able to build a wooden ramp in less than 3 hours. It was an amazing sight to behold, when a family can come together, out of love and generosity, to overcome such an adversity. Maybe that’s the reason for everything.

The Promos

We have Hazy Days of Summer book bargains, an all-genre book giveaway! Several authors have come together to offer some free books. Check them out!

This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Morning Brew! I enjoy Morning Brew each, well, morning … with my brew … I like that it gives me a broad range of news (including the stock markets) without too much left-or-right-leaning. It’s free.

Clean Plates is nifty newsletter that brings you recipes for healthy living. Check them out if you want some meal ideas. The Sample sends you one article from a random blog or newsletter that matches up with your interests. Help a girl out and check it out … I get more subscribers if someone signs up for another newsletter!

Happenings

This week, we continue with The Lincoln Lawyer craze. Here’s a recap of Season 2 (Season 1, The Movie). I’m on Episode 6, but you can read up so far if you want. I also decided to forgo my Facebook page since I didn’t care enough about it.

I’m reading Mickey Haller by Michael Connelly, a short book about this dynamic character. If you want to know how Mr. Connelly created Mickey, then it’s a good read. It’s a bit short for the money, but I love to read how authors come up with their characters.

Next up: Rough Justice by Stacey Abrams. I’ve read the prologue thus far, and it’s not that great (either in terms of prose or plot). It’s got terrific reviews on Amazon, so hopefully it’s just a bad prologue. Tbh, most authors could excise their prologues.

I’ve also gotten the cooking bug lately, so I decided to add a ton more recipes to the site. More details soon!

---

Everything Happens For a Reason: Understanding Destiny

There are times that leave us wondering if everything happens for a reason. The moment you are late for work, but you run into your spouse at the coffee shop. When you just know something has happened. Déjà vu.

What if there is an intricate web of fate governing our lives, connecting us to the people we meet, the opportunities that come our way, and the challenges we must face? Throughout history, philosophers and thinkers have grappled with the concept of fate.

Understanding the Belief in Destiny

The belief in destiny or fate is as old as human civilization itself. Many ancient cultures, from the Greeks to the Egyptians, held strong beliefs in the concept of destiny. The Greeks believed in the Moirai, the goddesses of destiny, who spun the web that we live.

They believed that the course of a person’s life was predetermined in that web, and that everything that happened was part of a grand plan. This belief has persisted in some form or another and continues to influence our thoughts and actions today. Some people find comfort in the idea that there is a reason behind everything that happens, while others may feel constrained by the thought of their lives being predestined.

The Psychological Impact of Believing in Fate

Believing in fate can have a profound psychological impact.

On the positive side, it can provide a sense of comfort and security, knowing that there is a purpose behind everything that happens. It can also help people cope with difficult situations by giving them a sense of perspective.

On the negative side, believing in fate can also lead to feelings of helplessness and lack of control, particularly when faced with challenging circumstances.

How to Find Meaning in Difficult Situations

Finding meaning in difficult situations can be challenging, but it is not impossible. One way to do this is by adopting a growth mindset, which involves viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. What lessons can you learn from adversity? What meaning is there behind the bad things that happen to you?

Another approach is to practice mindfulness, which can help us stay present and engaged in the moment, rather than getting lost in worries about the future or regrets about the past.

The Power of Perspective and Personal Agency

Ultimately, the belief that everything happens for a reason comes down to perspective and personal agency. We have the power to choose how we interpret and respond to the events in our lives. By adopting a positive perspective and exercising our personal agency, we can find meaning and purpose in even the most challenging situations.

My Opinion

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? I do. Whether or not you believe, we also have the power to shape our own destinies. While we may not have control over everything that happens to us, we can control how we respond to these events and the meaning we attach to them.