Destination v. Destiny

"Look Daniel, Destiny is usually just around the corner. Like a thief, a hooker, or a lottery vendor; its three most common personifications. But what destiny does not to is home visits. You have to go for it." - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

I often fear that I will get so close to my destined path, and just be inches from tasting its fruits, only to have missed the opportunity, hidden beyond the corner of the next .1 mile block. Life is about grabbing the bull by the horns, drinking the half full glass, calling the winning numbers. It is about perseverance.

Giles Duley, a photographer for fashion, glamor and the music industry for 10 years, always thought he had reached what he was destined to do. He believe he truly had it figured out, that he had accomplished his fated task, and had fulfilled his inner peace. He was rudely mistaken, tragically but definitively. While stationed in Bahrain, he stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) while routinely monitoring the surround grounds. His arm had to be removed, a valuable asset to a photographer. Months earlier his mind was jarred by a young boy who he had befriended in Russia. He intended to return later that year with a camera, for the boy had taken an interest in the art, and had never seen the beauty of life captured between well adjusted pixels. His country had been ripped apart my authoritarian rule and indoctrinated poverty. He was stricken with loss, but given beauty, in a place where it was only smothered or dreamed of.

As Duley lied in bed with, his arm amputated, conjuring up thoughts of death, and how his life is to change, if he chose to continue it, he received worse news. The young Russian boy was found dead; he had overdosed on pain medication and vodka, at the age of 14. Rather than lie around and feel sorry for himself, while the rest of his body awaited eagerly to the travel with godlike speed through the rest of his life, Giles Duley had a revelation. Reporting the news, and capturing its surroundings would no longer suffice. It was the story of the people, that he would take into custody and propagate. Through him, these stories of the less fortunate, the brilliant, the abused, and the victorious would reign.

So quick are we to move away from our goals, and often because we feel we are on the wrong path. If you truly do believe that, then perhaps you should try another route. How simple it would be to defeat the words of Robert Frost and at the divergence of two roads, travel both. You can always take both roads, the common path and the one less traveled, but isn't it always the latter that proves more compelling, more truthful, more serendipitous, and with more foreordination?

I am not sure if there are any Latin connections between the terms destiny and destination. But if there are, I offer this. As we grow more reliant on GPS devices, electronic maps, and Siri to guide us to our destinations, we miss the detours. We miss the failed attempts that lead to eminent findings and illustrious sites. We miss the mistakes that teach us life lessons, earths fables, and stranger tales. We should let go our of metaphorical GPS devices, carrying us directly where we think we ought to go, and simply enjoy the ride. When I reach my destiny, I can only hope it's a rewarding destination, but one I will not seek with normal travel.