Things Happen For A Reason? Really?

Or maybe it’s just me trying to find a reason for the things that happen to me.

Whether they be happy, sad, fun, or painful.

Do things really happen for a reason?

Maybe they do.

 

How one thing leads to another.

When I was still in school, I was pretty hooked to my hobbies.

I played guitar, played collectible card games, and played a lot of computer games.

Looking back, I didn’t pick up these hobbies because I knew that they would have something in store for me in the future.

I had no darn clue.

All I knew was – I was having a lot of fun.

And the fun, just kept pushing me to keep going and getting better and better at my hobbies.

 

Listen to the fun.

My hobbies and out of classroom activities, were more of like the real school for me.

I didn’t find studying fun.  I didn’t find the classroom fun.  And, I didn’t find some of my classmates fun.  I’m sure their feelings were mutual.

I just focused on what I found fun, and just kept going at it.

In my kid’s mind, I was just looking for fun, and not a whole lot of other stuff.

No fancy stuff about self and future.

No “I need tos” and “I have tos”.

Just fun.

 

One thing leads to another.

So I really got good at a lot of the things I found fun.  I realized I had poured a lot of time, effort, and practice into those hobbies.

After some time, I got good at playing the guitar, played my card game pretty well and had a ton of cards (and by that, I mean boxes upon boxes), and was still hooked on video games.

And for quite some time, I thought that was it.  They were just hobbies that I found a lot of fun in, passed the time with, and used to cope the uncertainty, fear, pain, and problem also known as high school and college life.

Because I got good at playing the guitar, I was able to express myself creatively, and also make a lot of friends.  I was surprised at how much music is the great communicator and connector between people.  I’d get to know people more, and we would bond over afternoons and evenings spent just playing the guitar and singing.

Because I played my card game pretty often, and pretty well, I got to meet people from all walks of life, and learn how to relate to people who came from different backgrounds, all with different attitudes, all playing the same game and sharing experiences.  I also got to know them for who they really are, outside of the card game.

Also, little did I know that the cards that I collected and kept would grow so much in value after all these years.  I was able to finance almost 80% of a seminar I’m taking, just from selling these pieces of cardboard to fellow collectors and gamers.  They get the old, highly collectible and coveted cards that I’ve been keeping, and I get to do what I want to do, in the now.

What a win-win that is.

 

The connectedness of seeming random stuff

Playing a lot of computer games taught me how to learn stuff on the fly, ask for help, and watch what other people better than you are doing, and find out what leads people to success.

It wasn’t fun getting beat, but it was more fun to find out how others were succeeding, and to keep on getting better.

Playing the guitar and computer games also taught me about deliberate practice – focusing on practicing a particular action, technique, or skill, and to slowly incorporate that action into your regular routines and performance.

Until you can pull it off without even thinking about it, comfortably, and flawlessly.

Only recently was I able to identify that a lot of the talents and skills I use on a day to day basis were developed by my hobbies, and my time, effort, and fun in doing those hobbies.

 

Everything has a reason

Even if we don’t know it, don’t feel it, or don’t see it.

It’s Connectedness – the belief and trust that one thing leads to another, that nothing happens by chance, and that we are all in this world together, as one.

I was surprised to find out the benefits of the things I was doing before, just for fun.

And now, they bring me fulfillment, enjoyment, help others, and of course, still bring the fun.

And now, I’m thankful for the experiences and training, and wowed by how these things lead to other things.

Without our knowing ahead.

Now, within the last 4 days, our toilet clogged, our internet cable got snagged and cut, our shower floor still doesn’t drain completely, and my laptop is acting up.

Is there a reason for these things?  Where will this lead to?

I don’t know.  I can only have faith and hope.

And do.

 

Ever discovered the connection between two seeming different events in your life?  Please share in the comments below!