bee writes:
Destiny, I believe, exists. But I also believe strongly that not everyone fulfills their destinies.
Those who do decide to fulfill them, live a rich and meaningful life...
I agree with you.
I think, anyway...
I agree with what I think you're talking about
I don't call it "destiny" though, because that word doesn't really fit.
It carries too many pre-destination connotations with it that don't quite align with what I think you're trying to get at.
Like when you say "not everyone fulfills their destinies."
This remark alone implies that you are using some sort of definition of "destiny" that is not what is normally meant.
Normally, "destiny" refers to an unavoidable future. If it really is unavoidable, then it would be impossible for anyone to not fulfill their destiny.
There's a slightly different version of the word though... "destiny" can refer to a future that you're supposed to have. Whether or not you take the path to that future is up to you (or is sometimes out of your control, even)... it is easily avoidable, and can sometimes be hard to find.
This definition of "destiny" I agree with. I just don't call it destiny - I'd call it being honest with yourself and using self-reflection to find out what it is you actually, really want out of life.
For example:
Let's say Phil wants to be a mechanic. He loves tinkering with physical tools and such and he enjoys it immensely.
But Phil's dad was a radio talk-show host.
Phil's dad trains Phil to be a radio talk-show host because that's all he knows.
Now Phil has two choices - become a mechanic or become a radio talk-show host.
It's obvious here that if Phil decides to become a mechanic, he has a much greater chance of living "a rich and meaningful life" because he's doing something that he wants to do... something that aligns with his inner self.
If Phil becomes a radio talk-show host, he'll always have a nagging suspicion that he should actually be a mechanic. He has a large chance to become frustrated and resentful towards being a radio talk-show host just because he knows he'd rather be a mechanic.
Now, that's a really simple example.
Real life is more complicated and it's not so easy to "just know" that you want to be a mechanic or a radio talk-show host or whatever.
The path, though, to living a rich and meaningful life, is making sure that you are making the important decisions that affect the important aspects of your life.
(Importance here is also determined by you)
This way, you are doing what you want. That alone carries a certain level of self-fulfillment with it.
Honestly figuring out what it is you want in life is something much easier said than done. But the fact remains that you are the only person who can do it