Before we proceed, I would like to define these words in my own terms: fate, future, and choice. I would say the future is the time ahead of us. Choice is the path we choose to take, while fate is destiny.
I would say our choices shape our future through the things we choose to do in life. For instance, someone who did not go to school and also does not have any skill or working experience may find it difficult to survive in the country today. Even if that person wants to start a business, without any knowledge or experience, they might come back to square one. In the next ten years, that person might still be fighting for survival. However, if someone has a good skill, they can use it to make a living and improve their future.
The people we choose to involve ourselves with can also affect our future. There is a saying that “a friend of a thief is a thief.” When you choose to associate yourself closely with someone involved in crime, you may eventually find yourself in trouble because of their actions. For example, the day that person is arrested, you might also be arrested as an accomplice, even if you did not plan to commit the crime yourself. This shows that some of the choices we make today can have consequences tomorrow.
However, I also believe that fate has its own role to play. We might make the right decisions, plan well, and do everything we can, but some things can still happen that are completely beyond our control. I have seen someone who was doing well in life and in business, but everything he had built was taken away overnight by robbers. He had to start all over again. He had planned well and made good decisions, but an unexpected event brought him back to square one. To me, this is one way fate can affect a person's future.
I will say that not giving up on ourselves or on the choices we make is a good step. Sometimes, the choices we make may affect our future in ways we did not expect, but that does not mean we should give up. Everyone deserves a second chance. When things do not go as planned, we can learn from our experiences, make better choices, and try again. Our future may not always go exactly the way we planned, but we should not allow failure or unexpected events to stop us from moving forward.
Our choices have a major role in our lives, but fate can still show up when we least expect it. Because some things can happen beyond our control, we should be bold enough to make good choices for our lives while still being prepared to face whatever life has in store for us. Above all, we should hope and pray for a good future. Image from my camera