with a drummril (see next entry) we begin by informing you that if you blinked, you missed the previous entry in which I ponder the daily life in the physical world and, perhaps, reinforce or take steps toward set new goals for myself in the entry or few before that one... cymbals crash... can it get any more exciting?...

and in this entry, a visit to the onion brings about the following ponderings about life, the universe, and everything... particularly relating to the questions posed by atypical_grrl (I don't think links work if you're not a member of the onion, so I'm not linking here, but anyone I mention at the onion is very worth reading and I wish they'd allow external linking there)... I quote her post here:

The Free will vs Fate debate is a complex and ongoing one. I'm curious to know what your thoughts are on this. Are you someone who believes that outcomes are pre-determined by natural or divine law? Is there such a thing as destiny? And, if so, is it inescapable? Or, are we ultimately in control of our decisions and actions, free of divine will? Is it in your hands?

Are fate and free will intertwined?

Seems to me these are questions that are often asked when it comes to matters of the heart. I have heard talk of 'soulmates' here. Do you believe in 'the one?' Is there someone out there you're meant to meet? Have you met already? When it comes to dating, do you sit back and wait, or make it happen?

Which of the following do you relate to most?

"Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. Que sera sera." Doris Day

"You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.If you choose not to decide,you still have made a choice."Rush

"Belief in fate is no excuse for letting go the reins." Jeannette Winterson (The Power Book)

"Instant Karma's gonna get you. Gonna knock you right on the head." John Lennon

"Maybe she'll pick him out again. How long must he wait? Once more for a simple twist of fate." Bob Dylan

None of these, but some other words come to mind. (Please comment).

and I refer, in my response (below), to two others who responded so my first words in my response relate to their responses, I include their two responses that I refer to in my my response in this entry (below, ya falla?)...

Zubenelgenubi said:

None and all of those for me.

Because all of our fates and actions intertwine, how one person negotiates (free will) the cards they've been dealt (fate)impacts the fate and objectivity of another's free will. I feel we've cultured attitudes that disallow a sense of rightness and freedom in decision making. Often people have strong pulls and intuit about how to handle their momentary fates and do not exercise them successfully or at all because to do so puts them at odds with a society that is overly stringent and judgmental.

Inherently I think we have free will with which to negotiate karma...the consequences of exercising free will in a manner positive to ourselves (even when it does NOT cause harm to others) often negates the value of owning free will.

and sunnyheart wrote:

"Instant Karma's gonna get you. Gonna knock you right on the head." John Lennon

and

"Belief in fate is no excuse for letting go the reins." Jeannette Winterson (The Power Book)

Intertwined, yes. We may be drawn together by fate, but ultimately it is our choice to set the wheel in motion...I don't believe in one soul mate...I believe there must be more than one, and we are lucky to collide with them at least once in our lifetime. I do believe in and have experienced that instant recognition of a 'same souled' person...not just intimately, but with a select few friends as well.

and taking a few moments to ponder these thoughts (and my navel, apparently), I found the following words falling out of my head and here's where you get a little more insight into me straight from my mouth, so to speak...

Hi again, hope all is well in your life today :)

I find a lot to agree with in Zubenelgenubi and sunnyheart's answers, though my own is less certain as I am comfortable knowing what I do not know... I consider myself a happy agnostic, not searching for answers, not spending much, if any energy on theories explaining the unknown, but experiencing each moment and embracing an anything is possible philosophy... whether it's fate or some the guidance of a universal consciousness or just random contacts of moving objects (which might be called chaos) does not matter to me... what matters is that I remember to and invest all I am in enjoying everything as much as I can and knowing I can choose what to do in each moment with each contact... sometimes I choose not to choose, knowing that doing nothing is a choice as valid as any...

Do you believe in 'the one?'

yes, many...

Is there someone out there you're meant to meet?

I don't know...

Have you met already?

yes and no... I have met several people who could have been the one, who were the one for the time they were with me, some who could be the one again, but ultimately the one 'the one' is the one who remains forever (as it is a choice for even a perfect match requires compromises to remain perfect)...

When it comes to dating, do you sit back and wait, or make it happen?

I've done both... these days I observe much more than I reach out... there was a time when I said hello and actively contacted someone many times when I was interested in knowing them better... these days I say hello and wait for a reaction, content to welcome anyone interested in me and to leave those not interested or too busy to their own choices...

Which of the following do you relate to most?

as I said, of those choices, none are ideal for me... there is someone who I'd welcome back in life for another try (Dylan), but what is fate?... I can believe whatever will be will be and still believe that to every action there is some sort of reaction (though maybe not always equal and opposite)... and if there is a fate and fate is an outside force or random movement, that is no excuse for completely denying that everything is a choice and even choosing to let go of the reigns is a choice... and there may be a karma, but it's not always as instant as John suggested... but then, what is an instant when time is relative...

perhaps I don't spend much time pondering these questions because I know I can roll any answers around in my head over and over and still come back with a happy 'anything is possible, so whatcha wanna do now?'...

all have some possible validity and I can be comfortable with any one of them, but perhaps Rush calls it best for me for the moment in that I choose to make no choice... does that mean I am trusting fate or chaos?... I don't know, I'm just doing my best to share and enjoy each moment as much as I can...

and so it goes... did you learn anything?... am I better defined as a person now?... or perhaps I confused myself in your eyes even more than before... clarity is such a fleeting moment sometimes... anyway, I felt like this was worth sharing and so here it is... maybe it's just cuz I really like atypical_grrl so whatever pondering she inspires in me is viewed through rose-colored glasses that make the thoughts seem more profound... or maybe I'm just looking to catch up on entries... or maybe this is deep insight into my psyche that reveals the essence of who I am... or something like that...

in any case, I hope you had fun reading cuz I had fun writing and life is almost always better when it is fun and fun is almost always better when it is shared and if I can add something positive to each moment then I am a happy camper... whatever it takes to bring out the happy camper in you, may you do it often and well...

. o O ( NOTES ARE THE NEW HAPPY PILL ) O o .
(just let me know you were here)