Of Fate and destiny

It is of human nature to be afraid. This is one emotion that is commonly shared by everyone of every age. Yet fear comes in many different forms as the reaction to many different things. Fear of commitment, fear of death, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of being alone, fear of pain, fear of losing someone, fear of change, ect. It controls and governs many actions. But when looking at this collection of fears you can start to see a pattern that connects them all despite seeming like opposites. All these fears have the common aspect of control. It can be argued that  fear doesn't arise from the actual fear of dying, or committing your self to something now and forever or even being fearful of being alone and isolated. It’s the fact that we feel that these things are going to happen and there’s nothing we can do about it. You're afraid your going to dye not because of the actual death but because there is nothing in your power that you can do to prevent it. You do not rule what is going to happen to you, Fate does.
    And so we see the true enemy, the true source of our fears and anxieties; that it has already been decided that you will fail, that you will lose a loved one that things will change dramatically around you. It's not in your control what happens, it's in you destiny that this will happen and you are powerless to stop it. The concept of Fate and Destiny are what governs and makes us afraid. Humans like to be in control. We alter the weather and environment to make it nicer to us. We raise and train animals, reinforcing our control over them, using the excuse that it’s to improve our life. We delve into the science of chemistry, biology, psychology and the likes as a way to understand and use that understanding to change and control what was previously out of our grasp.
    When something comes along that we do not understand, that we fail to have a solution and explanation for we denied it and fear it. One can not control what one does not understand. Where does fate all into this? Fate is the central order of things. All your life choices, all your decisions, actions and reactions are all ready planned and orchestrated. You are like a character in a novel that the end is already written for.  This is what causes the fear and anxiety and fear we suffer. This concept that we are helpless and this thing we call free will is an illusion. No matter what we do the same fate will befall us. We're helpless and we're frightened by this.
     So we rebel and deny our destinies, striving to achieve great things, change the world, and leave our mark in a way that will affect the people around us. We strike out and will go against what seems natural, what it seems like fate is pushing us words. Instead of walking the pre-made path we will cut through and attempt to form our own path.
     Or we re-define fate and destiny as some manifested greatness that only we are destined for. We will be something great and remembered even if others try and stop us. The term Manifest destiny comes to mind. We abuse the ideals of Fate as an explanation and a justifying of what we are doing. it's not our choice to invade you people, it's what Fate has written for us, and we can’t change that.
    At least this is what I feel rests in our minds, on an unconscious level if not one we are aware of. It's not something we actively think about for the most part. But its there whenever someone starts feeling like life is out of their control or that things are happening to you that are causing you to fail or such. Like the student that tells the teacher “I can't turn in that assignment, I had to work late last night because my relief didn’t come in on time, then my car didn’t start, then I got home and my cat got sick on the bed....". Are these excuses or are these examples of the very obstacles Fate tosses in our way to make sure we walk along our assigned path?
    Coming down to it Fate and Destiny is a concept that terrifies me in a love-hate sort of way. If Fate does exist then all my choices are made and I am simply a puppet following the commands of the puppeteer. On the flip side no destiny means that there us nothing great written for me. I have a 50/50 chance of failing at my ambitions and dreams and getting sucked into a monotonous existence, only to be forgotten when I die. Of the two though, I think I would rather being able to make decisions that are actually mine and choosing my own path rather then simply fulfilling my role. I'd be one of those that thrash out and swerve from the path, attempting to cut out my own. Many decisions I have made already are in result of feeling like the choice I didn’t take was the one I was suppose to.
    Now you dear reader must ask yourself, am I following a pre-determined destiny? Are my actions and choices mine or simply those chosen for me? Am I going to rebel and try to break away from Fate to write my own story, or do I find comfort in the thought that I am walking along a safe path that is where I am suppose to be? Have I made a decision simply because it felt like that was what was expected of me and what I was supposed to do?
    This is just the rant of a disgruntled poet I guess. If it holds any merit or significance or is destined to make you think only time will tell