Feb 22, 2011

I'm No Puppet


My dear cousin Bonnie and I have an on-going disagreement over the cosmic workings of the universe.  She believes in fate/destiny/kismet and I do not.  She believes that certain things are meant to happen and that people are sometimes powerless to stop moving down destiny's path.

I don't believe that.  I am not Fate's Pawn to be moved around the chessboard of life on a whim.  I make of my life what I choose.  My decisions, my actions, my rewards, my consequences.    


Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. 


William Ernest Henley 


10 comments:

  1. Well what am I? I am on the fence between the two of you!

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  2. Although there are many things that happen in my life that are beyond my control, the way I react to those things is in my control. My choices make a difference in what happens in my life.
    My dad loved Invictus. It was read at his funeral. Thanks for posting it and giving me a moment to remember my wonderful dad.

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  3. Foxy - Most people are. Probably Bonnie and I too but we lean on opposite sides.

    Mom - That was my grandfather's favorite poem too. He recited it too me often when I was a kid. I didn't remember until I inherited his book of poetry and found the well worn page it was on.

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  4. I'd like Invictus to enjoy a revival.

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  5. I agree with you..life is what you make it.

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  6. Booda - I agree. How many problems would go away if people adopted self determination as standard practice?

    YDG - Good, bad or indifferent.

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  7. I REALLY don't believe that things are mapped out in advance. I also don't believe that anyone, or anyting is controling what happens to me. I pretty much adhere to the "secret" and the "power of positive thinking" outlook on life. I have the power and will to select my own destiny.

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  8. As Bonnie's daughter i was also raised to believe in "Fate". However I also believe in Life is what you make it and sometimes Fate happens. Say you found $20 just at that point in time when you where in need of the $20, Isn't that Fate? I didn't make that happen....so that is why I believe in BOTH. why do you have to believe in one or the other cant you believe in both?
    My favorite quote and I say it alot is "AHH if it was meant to be, it would be"

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  9. I do believe in both. Some things you have control over, some no control.
    I am the master of my fate and the capitan of my ship.
    Most of the time. Other times I have absolutaly no control. Thank you god. The best of both worlds

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  10. I believe that there are things that could happen but that we have free will and can change things by decisions we make - Once a nun said to me "Heaven is the state that you reach when you learn the whole truth" I can imagine how that might feel - quite a statement for a nun to make but even then she was a free thinker. As well we can not know the whole truth about life the universe and everything until we die - but can just suppose we know...and I like this about being human do you know what my word verification is "boozymic"???

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