(no subject)

[grim23]

A former student of mine wrote: "Destiny is what/who we are meant to be. Fate is what happens to us when we turn our back on fulfilling our Destiny."

I'm curious for other perspectives. I'm opening up my lj for this. Respond if you will.

Comments

[sienna555.livejournal.com]

Destiny is unknowable until after the fact. I could say that my destiny is to work until I retire, but what happens if I win the Lottery? Is that Fate, because I wasn't looking, or Destiny, because I was meant to win the lottery? That just doesn't clarify anything for me.

I have to agree that those words are bandaids put on to make people feel better about fucking up. And, hey, I'm all about making people feel better. But let's recognize the concept that redefining words so that they edge over into a new meaning, while comforting, still does not make it so.

If you want to know what Fate and Destiny mean, grab a Websters. If you need to find a reason for the position you are in, don't call it Fate or Destiny...call it Experience.