Destiny

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. – William Jennings Bryan

A lot of people believe that they are destined for something greater than what they have in their lives, but few of them get off their butts and do anything about it. Don’t be one of these people.

They go through their lives, waiting, expecting something to happen to them or near them where they can be the hero – an accident where they pull the baby out of the burning car, a brilliant idea that launches them into the vice-presidency of their company, a song or band that gets them fame and fortune and plenty of roadies, something. But in the meantime, they wait. And life keeps ticking away.

So much of their focus is on what they’re going to do after this thing has happened. They think about how great it’s going to be, how they’ll blow all their money or not squander it like all the lottery winners you read about, how people will respect them and they’ll be able to do anything they want. They aren’t just tied up in the future; they’re tied up in the part of the future that happens after the event – just one portion of the future, over which they have decided they have no control. Inspiration will strike from outside. Or someone else will cause the accident. Or a recording agent will happen to be driving past their garage while they practice. Something. They don’t know when, but it will happen. Someday.

Don’t be one of these people. Don’t live in an uncertain future that hinges on something you don’t control, that will happen at a time that you can’t anticipate. Will things happen to you that you can’t control? You bet. But you don’t have to give up control to the whims of chance, expecting that destiny will do everything. If you do your part, you can shape your destiny and perhaps help it happen a little sooner to you.

Are you destined to come up with the brilliant solution at just the right time? Foster your creativity. There are plenty of ways to improve your creativity, help you think in new ways, see solutions that others do not.

Are you destined to be the roadside hero? Do you know CPR? Do you know the signs of shock? Do you know the numbers for the police and fire department? Can you swim? Can you swim well enough to help a drowning person? Are you nimble enough that you can dodge an out-of-control car? Can you fight well enough to scare off a mugger? Take a CPR class. Take a lifeguard class. Take a fighting class. Keep yourself in shape. Be prepared for the emergency in which you will be the hero.

Are you going to be the hottest musician since Elvis? Can you sing? Can you play an instrument? How many hours a day do you practice? How many songs have you written? Not just started, but completed? Even if that particular song is not the song that will make you a household name, it can be good practice. How many demo tapes have you sent out? How many have you made? How many people in the recording industry do you know? Practice your music. Practice your writing. Go to open mike nights and get used to playing in front of an audience. Even if they don’t deserve your talent or don’t recognize it, it’ll be good practice, and it’ll make for great stories when you do hit it big. Get to know people in the recording industry. Not just the big people, but the little ones. Little ones know small ones, know medium sized ones, know big ones, know the ones that can make you rich. And they also know the opportunities that you may otherwise miss, not being in the industry yourself.

There are a lot of things you can do to shape your destiny or at the very least be ready for it when it happens to you. You can shape your Future. Do the things that give it the shape you want.