Gasconade County Republican

By Brittni Cebulak

WARNING: The following article reflects one certain opinion on matters that cannot possibly be completely understood by the human mind. Differences of opinion are understood and welcomed, and this piece is by no means scientifically accurate. Read it with an open mind and make your own decisions based on what you perceive to be true for your own situation in life.
There are many connotations and denotations surrounding the aspect of fate and destiny. Most of the time, the two words are viewed as being one and the same, but, in truth, they are more like conjoined twins who are connected at the heart—one cannot exist without the other. Destiny personifies that in which we are meant to do; fate personifies all the things that will happen to us starting from the beginning of our lives up until the day when we part from Earth, with every bit of pain, death, suffering, struggle, and heartache being included. Moreover, our destiny and fate define our personalities and the positions we will uphold during our lives. But how does one know what their destiny and fate is?
Each person is drawn to specific and different things. For example, some people like rap music, some like country, some like pop, and still others like rock. Similarly, everyone has different interests and goals for their futures; some people want to uphold a career involving science, some in mathematics, some in literature, etcetera. Some people have aspirations of fame and fortune, and others only want a simple and fulfilling life with family and friends. Still, there are some individuals who honestly have no idea on what they want for themselves. However, the first step in identifying what direction your destiny will take you is coming to terms with what you want to do with your life. If you love animals and feel that you need to become a veterinarian, go for it. Believe in your heart that it is what you are meant to do, for, honestly, there is not a tangible way to know for certain what one is meant to accomplish in life. Everyone is influenced by different situations in life that drive them to become the people they are. After that, they just have to have confidence that they have done that in which they were meant to do. Moreover, when you make mistakes, which is always inevitable among the human race, do not beat yourself up about it—simply tell yourself that it was meant to be. You will save yourself a lot of heartache later, and it does no good to have regrets when it is impossible to fix things in the past.
As for fate, this invisible force marks all the triumphs and hardships that the universe throws at us, ultimately shaping us into the people we will become. It challenges us, tears us down, breaks our hearts, and, occasionally, gives us moments of pure happiness and contentment. Fate dares us to reach our greatest goals and fulfill our destinies, even though most of us are unaware of it. We always have a choice in the matter, of course, but it is always logical for us to strive for the things we want. For example, an individual who loves to sing in front of an audience will not want to settle for a career in the confines of an office cubical if he or she is offered a contract in the music business. Moreover, fate is cruel and unpredictable. It may take away your ability to do what you want most to do in life, such as a famous dancer becoming paralyzed in a tragic car accident, ultimately losing the use of their legs. In this instance, one will feel as if they were cheated out of their destiny, but that is not the case. There are no accidents or coincidences in life; everything that happens is meant to be. So, if you are unable to become the person you wanted to be, it is best for you to find peace with yourself by accepting the fact that the past is behind you, you can only move forward, and, because of fate, your destiny entitles something else. Furthermore, the events of fate may also harden a person and make them become someone they never expected to become— someone they vowed they would never become.
Each of us has a destiny and a fate that defines it. Not all destinies are happy ones, and fate more often than not highlights the cruelness of life, but, for some reason too grand for the human mind to fathom, it is all meant to be. Some individuals fulfill a destiny that makes their existence rewarding, and still others are trapped and tormented with thoughts and dreams of what could have been. The universe has a cataclysmic lack of equilibrium in that way. However, that should not stop anyone from pursuing their goals. If there is something that you feel you must do in life, strive for it with every bit of your determination as if you were certain it was your destiny; and if the malicious, unseen force of fate throws a life altering challenge your way, find peace with the belief that it was meant to be due a power much greater than life and Earth itself.

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