Traci Toguchi Question of the Day: Fate & Destiny

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http://bit.ly/F9qBr - Corresponding Blog Post
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In a serendipitous moment, there was just enough daylight for me to shoot the Question of the Day video in one take.

Recently, this word has been coming up in quite a few conversations with Russ aka @parkrat on Twitter. We initially got a kick finding out many similarities we share (both Okinawan and Japanese, attended the same high school, knew the same people, etc.), but something else pretty kewl recently popped up.

I spoke with him about my wanting to work with a band for album two, and what I was looking for. He mentioned a friend that plays in a popular local band that I was aware of, and realized he lives on the same hill as me. As it turns out, this friend of his happens to live TWO houses away from me, AND we both grew up in our respective houses, so we've been neighbors all this time! Why have we discovered this only now? Not sure. Serendipity.

So, this past Sunday, Keith Monzen from Missing Dave and I had our first songwriting session (note: I'm not working with Missing Dave, but some players from the band and other really kewl players too!). I was tickled pink as I walked across the street back to my place having nearly completed 2 songs we were both excited about. Meeting songwriters and being able to gel like that musically and personality-wise from the get-go is uncommon needless to say. Serendipity.

[Photos: Inside Serenditpity NYC - Traci Toguchi
http://bit.ly/F9qBr

Photo Caption: During my first visit to New York City, courtesy of Vacations Hawaii as Miss Vacations Hawaii, a must-stop was Serendipity for their trademark frozen hot chocolate. YUM! (LOL I was 17) Below is our adjoining table.

Wikipedia defines serendipity as the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely unrelated.

And Dictionary.com defines it as 1. an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. 2. good fortune; luck: the serendipity of getting the first job she applied for.

So how much of my recent experiences was destiny efforts I put forth to make these things happen, and how much was fate things beyond my control?

In the video, I speak about how I create and change percentages according to what is happening in my life at that time. For example, sometimes I feel we make 50% of what happens in our life, and the other 50% is out of control. Sometimes the percentages change to 75% destiny and 25% fate. And sometimes (like now), I feel fate has been more in control. No matter what I do to take the bull by the horns, something else is taking me elsewhere and by other means. Its been a real test of faith (a whole nother topic for another day).

In one of my all-time favorite movies, you guessed it, Serendipity, the concept is scripted as a love story with the famous eatery with the same name as a recurring backdrop (as in the above photo).


So what do you think?

How much of our life do you think is fate and/or destiny?

To Comment: http://bit.ly/F9qBr

Ready for more serendipity? While Googling the term, saw that this was posted 2 hours ago: As the saying goes, Serendipity happens.

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[skitfreak]

Zero percent. We are in control of our own outcomes, 101%. Meaning I am responsible for all of my own outcomes. Some decisions lead to unlikely events. None the less, everything comes from something.

[tracitoguchiinc]

Where would you say the unlikely events come from if we are in control of our outcomes?

[Toasternator1000]

I dont belive in fate, i like 2 think im in control of my own life

[tracitoguchiinc]

Kewl :)

[sokarazie]

i think its out of your control .... do u notice sometimes when u plan for things to work out a certain way and something happens to mess up your plans ..... i believe fate and destiny is under gods hands.

[tracitoguchiinc]

Right! Like John Lennon said: Life is what happens when we're busy making other plans.

I try to give it my all - take the steps, then let it go. Sometimes letting go comes sooner if I keep hitting "speed bumps." Have done that many-a-times...

[tracitoguchiinc]

Yes, similar to my belief in "percentages," doncha think?