Fighting the Fickle, Feely Fingers of Fate

The Creepies

I knew they were coming!  I had sensed their presence lurking around the edges of my consciousness for about a week!  They've been a constant companion of mine since I was a child -- and I'm guessing that they've been caught hanging around your life as well from time to time!  Who are they?  Well, they are the creepies of course!  You know what I mean -- those feelings that slither their way into your soul and eat away at your confidence; chew holes in your resolve; cloud your thinking; cast doubts on your determinations!  The creepies!  Yes, they are always looking for a inroad -- a path by which to capture our dreams and hold them prisoner.

The creepies are the agents of FATE sent out to undercut our abilities to rise above the mundane.  Dark and shadowy, they prowl -- nosing at the cracks in our lives seeking dreams to devour.  FATE has a way of doing that to us -- convincing us that whatever our current lot in life, it was simply meant to be -- rendering us incapable of questioning or fighting against it.

FATE has other emissaries it employs to snuff out our dreams -- family of origin dysfunctions; societal injunctions; religious restrictions -- all working from time to time to eliminate the power of personal resolve!  FATE positions itself as some sort of all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful entity that determines which of us will rise above to live the life of our dreams and which of us will only futilely wish for the life of our dreams.

Yes, for about a week the creepies waited and watched . . . until . . . yesterday they made their move on me!

In the Darkness

I felt the creepies surround me -- poking and prodding; seeking entrance into my mind, my soul, my spirit.  I was immediately awake -- alert to all that was going on inside and around me!  The time? Two o'clock in the morning -- the darkest of darkness.

I quietly slipped out of bed and made my way to the study -- the creepies hovering, floating, probing, nudging as I walked.  I sat in my chair waiting to see what kinds of words would issue from the creepies.  I waited only a moment.

As if perched on my shoulders; positioned in my heart; punched into my brain, the words flowed:  "What do you think you're doing?"  "Have you gone completely mad?"  "Who do you think you are anyway?"  "Did you honestly think you could pull this off?"  "Do you know how ridiculous you look?"  "Do you have any idea how many people laugh at you?"  "When will you come to your senses and put an end to all this foolishness?"

With each onslaught, my resolve withered a bit!  My belief in self sustained bruising blows!  My dreams appeared far-fetched!  The creepies had me on the ropes and were pounding away!  FATE seemed to be winning once again -- then -- the bell!  (Actually it was my alarm going off at 6:00 am)  God knows how many rounds I tussled with FATE in the wee hours of the morning before my reprieve, but I was roused from this all-too-familiar fight and given a chance to fight back!

I stood up, and from within my spirit shouted, "NO! Not THIS time!"  I made my way back to bed, crawled under the covers and went to sleep!  I slept peacefully for four hours and then awakened.

On the Run

After a cup of coffee and the Sunday morning paper, I pulled on my running clothes and hit the pavement.  I do my best thinking; get my best ideas; capture my best insights while running.  Yesterday morning was no different. 

I attached my mp3 player to my arm, put on the earphones donned my cap and sunglasses and headed out.  When I run, I always listen to Brooks & Dunn -- everything from the Steers & Stripes cd to Cowboy Town!  Their music energizes me and jump-starts my thinking!  Songs like, "Only in America," "Red Dirt Road," "It's Getting Better All the Time," "Believe," "That's What It's All About," "Play Something Country," "Proud of the House We Built," and "Cowgirls Don't Cry" pour positive power into my running and my thinking!

As I ran, my mind freed itself of negative clutter and insight crystallized!  I knew what I needed to do -- what I needed to write.  When I returned home, I spent some time reflecting and writing notes.

What I Realized About FATE

While running, I realized several things about FATE that demand sharing!

First, FATE is Fickle!  A belief that FATE somehow perfectly spells out the paths we walk fails to recognize the fickle nature of life.  As easily as the weather changes, so does life!  FATE's fickle nature finds its essence in the circumstantial ebb and flow of life.  Do I really want to trust the realization of my dreams to a force that changes like the wind?

Second, FATE is Feely!  FATE depends on us to be carried away by our feelings of fear and uncertainty and despair!  It feeds on the life that emotions create in us.  It tears away at the positive emotions leaving only those that would cause us to freeze into place and cease working to realize our dreams!  Feely is different from intuition!  Intuition often goes against the grain!  It encourages us to take risks -- step out on a limb!  It guides us through the maze of "can't" into the realm of "can!"  Intuition is the substance of hope and faith!  Feely is well . . . feely!

Third, FATE has Fingers whose job it is to pull us back into the mire of defeatist beliefs and actions.  As I ran, I recalled a cartoon from my childhood where a character had fallen into a tar pit.  Flat on his back he began struggling to extract himself from the sticky substance.  With each move forward, the tar stretched from his body forming long, thin fingers that snapped back to the ground as he dislodged from their grip.  One by one, these fingers fell away until only one remained.  The character was exhausted.  Unable to see behind him and discern the reality of his situation due to his focus to move forward, he believed that his efforts were in vain -- that he would never be free of the mire.  Just as he was about to be free from the pit, he gave up and only one thin thread of tar pulled him back.  He was once again stuck never aware of just how close he had come to being free!  FATE has fingers, but they are not all-powerful! 

Fourth, FATE is not Final!  As much as we are led to believe at times, FATE is not set in stone!  It is not inescapable!  Destiny is a synonym for FATE.  We often find a skewed kind of comfort relegating our lives to FATE or Destiny.  We are off the hook if our life is destined to be what it is, right?  Well, I am firmly convinced that in large measure, we are where we are, do what we are doing and experience what we are experiencing due to choices we have made and continue to make!  It's like this, have you ever bought a plane ticket to one destination and not arrived at that pre-determined place?  I know there can be some exceptions due to weather or other unforeseen situations, but you see my point!  We arrive where we arrive, experience what we experience, have what we have based on our choices!  Our Destiny is created as we choose to embrace and engage the opportunities presented to us and make choices.  WE choose our destiny!

Fifth and finally, FATE can be Fought . . . and defeated!

The Formula for Fighting FATE

Following are some thoughts about how to successfully fight the facade of FATE.

1. We must realize that a Dream Conceived = Potential!  We must all allow ourselves to dream the life we desire to have!  That process establishes the potential of something different!
2. We must realize that a Dream Written = Possibility! Rarely so we ever realize a dream until and unless we write it down enabling us to read it regularly!  The more we read what we've written the more we believe in the possibility!
3. We must realize that a Dream Shared = Probability!  Accountability is perhaps the primary key to realizing dreams!  When our dreams are shared with others we create the opportunity to benefit from the counsel and wisdom of others.  We also take steps to eliminate excuses as to our ability to achieve our dreams.  We are accountable to another person!
4. We must realize that Patience Produces Results!  Nothing worth achieving will happen over night!
5. We must realize that Perseverance Pays Dividends!  The more strength we receive from the purposeful pursuit of our dreams, the more strength we will possess when times become difficult!
6. We must realize that Persistence Prevents Purposelessness!  The persistent pursuit of our dreams injects purpose into our actions, our conversations, our decisions, our relationships!

Walking the Talk!

In an effort to model some of what I write about today, I want to put a few of my dreams out there for public consumption!  Now believe me, this is a scary proposition; however, a necessary one if I am to maintain any sense of credibility.  Following are some of the dreams that were attacked by the creepies yesterday morning.

• I am currently in the process of raising funds for the Journey of Hope Grief Support Center through a campaign I call One in a Million!  My goal is to raise One Million Dollars, One Dollar at a time, One Person at a time in 2009!  As part of this campaign, I have dedicated myself to run one million steps or 500 miles (12 miles per week) between now and the end of the year.  I will donate $500 to the Journey of Hope as a result!  I have created another blog where you can follow the progress of the campaign @ http://livinginthemeantimes.typepad.com/million  Won't you join me by donating just one dollar and then inviting friends and family to do the same?
• I am currently engaged in a project to revise, update and publish a second edition of my first book Awaken to Good Mourning.  In order to do this, I am seeking financial partners to assist me in this endeavor.  I am convinced that the five people I need to meet are out there and by putting this information out, I am more likely to meet them than if I did not!  I envision selling one million copies of this book!  The need is great and the markets are wide open!
• I am seeking agent and/or agency representation to assist me in finding a publisher for four more books I have ready to go at this point in time -- The Place of Passage (a collection of therapeutic short stories), Living in the Meantimes (essays for purposeful, powerful living), Crucial Conversations With Children and Death Benefit Delivery: What Do I Do Now? (for life insurance professionals).

There you have it!  Likely more information than you wanted; however, I am hopeful that you will find encouragement to pursue your dreams with purpose, persistence, patience and perseverance!

Please feel free to share your dreams in this open forum!  Remember, there is power in shared dreams!

Until next time . . . Peace . . . and Sweet Dreams!

Mark

Copyright 2009 by Mark E. Hundley

 

Comments

[Trixie]

When we come into this world we use the womb to prepare for life as a physical human being. Most of the things we develop in the womb are not useful to the baby in the womb e.g. the ears, the eyes, mouths etc. We need all these things when we are born. Similarly the physical experience we are having on our spiritual journey, is to prepare us for the next leg of our journey. We are building spiritual eyes, ears and mouths that we will need when we leave the womb of the earth and born into the the spiritual world.
If we follow the teachings of God's Messenger for today, we will be guided in the right way about how to develop the spiritual capacities we will need to lead fulfilling healthy and happy lives in the world eternal.

[Susan993]

This was a wonderful, encouraging and amusing read. Fate--fickle, feely, has fingers but not final ... love it