Friday, April 06, 2007

Go With The Flow

I’m a big believer in fate. Not that I don’t think we have control of how our lives go, I just think that there is a place and time for everything to happen (whether you like it or not) and by going with the flow, you often end up where you should instead of fighting the current and getting no where. And I do believe in fighting, but sometimes you’re meant to fight and sometimes you’re not.

This whole house thing has been one surprise after another – good surprises – which was a surprise in itself. Things have just flowed. I decided one day I wanted a new house and found one I liked rather quickly at a price I could afford. I got approved for the loan easily. I had to work hard to get my house in good shape, but it turned out nice and the first people that saw it agreed. I wasn’t ready to show the house really, but if I hadn’t, I would’ve missed them and they wouldn’t have gotten the house they really wanted. They wanted to close earlier than I wanted to, which means apartment living for a few months, and yet when I cruised by my previously vacant lot yesterday, there was a house on it! Framed, roofed, everything. It’s a long way to go still, but the 2 month estimate on completion will take me right to when I close on my current house so I may not need an apartment at all! The inspection was quick with only a few minor fixes. Its just like I was meant to do this.

This happens in my life a lot. I think I was meant to go to college where I did and meet the people I met there. I think I was meant to move to Alabama, which I did on a whim, because I met DB, the Playfriends and the Mavens. Without them, my writing might have stagnated and I might have given up by now when the work got lonely and hard. My life would be so different without having done that – as would my mother, who’s married and had Little Sister since we came here. Even horrible things, like car wrecks where no one was seriously hurt, somehow lead to things getting better – a newer, better car.

For the most part, I am aware of this force in my life and I do my best not to fight it because things turn out the way they should. The hardest part is to accept it with regard to my writing. Of course, I work hard to be published and I feel in my heart I will be someday. I try not to get too discouraged by a rejection telling myself – well, maybe that wasn’t the editor or publisher for me. Maybe the timing isn’t right – I’m not ready yet. Yeah, I tell myself that, and maybe twenty years from now I can look back at these struggles and say it all worked out fine. That it happened when it was meant to and I was ready for it to happen. But it doesn’t take the sting off of all the setbacks and detours.

I've had so many pleasant surprises that I'm going to offer one myself today to a lucky blog reader. Comment on the blog today and tell me about something you're waiting for fate to bring along. The big sale? A new house? A vacation? A wedding? A grandbaby? I may not be able to get you what you're hoping for, but maybe I can come up with something to help you pass the time waiting. And no, not a Sudoku book... :)
SP

13 comments:

Playground Monitor said...

Let's see... moved 2 years ago. Had a wedding not long after that. Had a grandbaby 10 months ago.

What I'd really like is for #2 son to go back to grad school and eventually achieve his dream of becoming a college track coach.

But a vacation to someplace WARM would be really nice about now.

PM

Playground Monitor said...

Oh... and congrats on the quick and easy sale of your house. May the new house go up quickly and your move be smooth.

PM

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

It's supposed to be 25 degrees tonight. A record. Ugh.

Katherine Bone said...

We're expectant for so many things this year but, first and foremost, the safe delivery of our # 2 grandchild, a planned celebration of our marriage (first ever in 25 years), our daughter's journey and discovery of Europe, and # 2 and # 3's Senior years of college and high school. (I can't believe my baby boy is going to be a HS senior!)

Life moves so quickly. Enjoy every minute of it! As for fate, I believe things happen for a reason. There is no chaos. Life, like a river on a map, flows in a predetermined direction. Who are we to question the path? Rise to the occasion, whatever it may be. Dance to the music, go the distance. And at life's end, the map will feature the direction your river took.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I'm such a control freak I find it difficult to let go and allow that force the chance to move freely in my life. It's one of the things I'm working on.

Instigator

Angel said...

I'd like to think that fate will take me in a totally awesome direction, but quite frankly, I don't trust it. :) Like Instigator, I'm definitely a control freak.

The times I struggle with the most is when fate seems to keep putting things off, or saying no. Yesterday, our real estate agent called and said she wanted to list our house in a local "homes and land" magazine since it will go on the market Monday. And she told me the highest asking price she was comfortable with--$500 less than what we'd told her. Perfect!!! Finally something is happening with a YES! About time....

I'm so ungrateful.

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Angel - but maybe you weren't supposed to put your house on the market so early. Maybe it will sell quickly like mine did and you wouldn't be ready to move into the new place (or the new place wouldn't be ready). I know the guy falling through the ceiling and all the other messes make you crazy, but it could just be fate slowing you down so you do it at the right time. It will all go fine and you'll have a beautiful new house too!

Rhonda Nelson said...

SP, if you could make winning the lottery flow my way, I would be eternally grateful. :-)

Pat L. said...

Yes, a grandbaby.

Happy Easter to all.

catslady said...

I think of all the time and energy spent worrying about so many things (the way I was raised) and wish I could stop - what a waste of time really. I would love to just go with the flow. My youngest daughter needs to make some decisions about continuing her schooling and my oldest is getting married soon and hasn't found a job in her career choice after college - worry, worry, worry lol.

Carol M said...

A nicer house would be nice! That lottery idea sounds good, too! Then I could get that nicer house! lol

tetewa said...

My brother is opening his own business this month and my sister is getting married this summer.

Rachelle said...

I'm anxiously waiting for August 8..it's my wedding day!