RobArt Penguin

Certainly we have aspects in our lives that are hard wired, like our genetics, but much of our lives are influenced by random external factors, parents, community, society and periods of history. Certainly our core nature controls how we react to the outside world. Destiny suggests that all these factors are preordained or controlled by some great power. Oh, what a great power it would be, to control the multitude of variables for each of the billions upon billions of people. It gives me a headache thinking about it. I am not a fan of the version of destiny where everything is pre-decided. I think Nixon thought he was destined to be President, but not destined to leave the office in disgrace. While he was an actor, I think Zelenskyy did not think he would be the spearhead of Ukrainian resistance. Of course, it is easy, and maybe self-serving, for our politicians to tout America’s Manifest Destiny. In my life, I think I was destined for a creative life, because I worked very hard to avoid it and it came anyway. However for me, the idea of Destiny is limiting. I prefer to believe that each of us has an inner calling that provides immense peace of mind if we heed it.