h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Fate is an interesting beast.

It occured to me a few minutes ago that I just completed the communications class that I had dropped last semester because the professor didn't show up the first 2 days of class. I met Amber in communications. I don't even want to think about what things would be like if that prof had shown up.

I'm not sure I believe in fate or not. I believe and I don't believe. If your meeting with Amber in Communications was fated, then so was enrolling in college at a particular time and taking a particular class, etc. Going backwards, it never ends and freewill goes out the window. I prefer to think you took advantage of an opportunity.

An opportunity that I didn't know existed? lol

I feel maybe fate did have a hand in your meeting Amber. I met Lord C. as a result of being out of class to watch the launch of John Glenn. We had no classes together and our schedules conflicted, but I happened to be out of class that day and met him in the Student Union. That was in 1962. Some things are just meant to be.........

But fate can't be a one off. Either everything is fated or nothing is.

Pragmatically, you are right about fate, Hyp. It either is or it isn't. That doesn't mean there are not extenuating circumstances about why we are in a place at the right time. I really thank dear old John Glenn with regularity.

Sometimes it's hard not to believe in fate. Some people are so lucky in everything and other people try really hard and do everything right but never get a good result.

Right now, I thank Richard Kilpack for not showing up to class.

I can agree with you Hyp that some people really do try hard, maybe they are trying too hard.

Afternoon, I know I don't usually join in here, but I just thought:

The harder I work, the luckier I get. Which I believe came from Samuel Goldwyn. I apply this to 'fate' too, the more times I seize the day, the more things kinda work out.

You might be surprised how many times you could be in the same place as someone 'you'd never have met if it wasn't for..'

"sidles back into the mists of the wa"

I would agree with that mikerhike if it weren't for the reverse assumption that if things don't go well it is your fault because you have done something wrong or haven't worked hard enough. This is sometimes true, but not always.

that's the trouble with assumptions!

It's true, you can't just have hard work, but it is a key. I don't think you get good luck if you don't put in effort, but effort doesn't guarantee you luck.

(Or my 24 hour delivery of groceries service when there were no shops in town open 24 hours would have made me my first million.)

Have I just contradicted myself again?

I should come back and elaborate.

What a great concept. My father-in-law had a grocery delivery service. He called it "Tony's Rolling Store." He bought an old school bus and, with my husband's help, took out the seats and put in shelves and bins. Then he stocked it with the most common items a person would want plus fresh produce. He had a regular route, like the milkman.

It is true that you have to work to make some situations happen. However, there are times when things completely out of your control have to happen in order for you to have the opportunity to do the necessary work.

For instance: if that instructor had shown up to class back in the fall semester, I would not have dropped his course and therefore I would not have met Amber during the spring semester.

As for the mobile grocery store, I love that idea!

we have several mobile grocery stores here, I reckon I should move to wherever you are and try that!