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Playing Dice

Found this proverb in a book recommended by a co-worker ‘An invisible red thread connects those destined destined to meet, despite the time, the place, and the circumstances. The thread can be tightened or tangled, but will never be broken.’. The book is more useful for a younger person if the reader intends to use some of the learnings from it. 

But the quote gave me some food for thought - its the same idea I was raised on growing, about pre-destination and how there is no such thing as free-will. All the puzzle pieces of your life will come together, you just don't see the end state picture until you put the final piece in place. There is no randomness only a slow, gradual process of discovery. I have thought about this concept many times in my life specially in the context of how two people meet along their separate life journeys an part ways after a while. 

That encounter opens some doors, closes others, and defines what happens next - another puzzle piece falls in place. If you rewind to the past and start moving things by hours or inches you no longer have this encounter - and that goes to prove that nothing could have actually been moved. The things that you have discretion over are more trivial - its a bit like playing with dice before rolling. 

You get to choose how and how long you will play with your set of dice before rolling, that affords a sense of control and agency. Then you roll and next steps are defined immediately, the control ceases. For those we are meant to connect for longer periods of time for more significant reasons such as being a spouse, sibling or parent there must be this invisible red thread that connects. How else can it be explained. 

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