The Butterfly Effect
A few days ago I was reading about the Butterfly Effect online,though being a scientific term it closely relates to our practical lives as well.
It basically documents about how a series of small and unimportant decisions can completely change the course of life. Reading about the whole theory got me thinking,about how different my life could have been if I had taken a few different steps.
The whole evening was spent thinking about old memories. Its strange how a tiny event can set in motion a series of events, leading to a big change in our lives. When I sat down to think about it, it seemed quite unbelievable. But the more I thought about it,the more sense it made.
If Sachin Tendulkar hadn't made his first 200 in a stadium two minutes away from my house,I would have been able to concentrate better on my Physics exams. And if only I had scored a few more marks in Physics I would have been in my dream university in a totally different continent. Probably partying with frat boys rather than writing this post.
If only the winter wasn't so bad in my city back in 2008, my grandparents would not have gone back to our ancestral home and they might have been here,still alive. Probably calling me twice a day to make sure I ate.
But now when I look at all this in a bigger picture, I feel things happen because they are supposed to happen. You can never change the inevitable. If something has to happen,one way or the other it finds its way.
Even if all these changes hadn't happened,I still believe I would have been in pretty much the same place and loved by pretty much the same people.
PS : If you like what I write, do like my facebook page for more updates :)
The urban dictionary defines it as :
The scientific theory that a single occurrence, no matter how small, can change the course of the universe forever.
It basically documents about how a series of small and unimportant decisions can completely change the course of life. Reading about the whole theory got me thinking,about how different my life could have been if I had taken a few different steps.
The whole evening was spent thinking about old memories. Its strange how a tiny event can set in motion a series of events, leading to a big change in our lives. When I sat down to think about it, it seemed quite unbelievable. But the more I thought about it,the more sense it made.
If Sachin Tendulkar hadn't made his first 200 in a stadium two minutes away from my house,I would have been able to concentrate better on my Physics exams. And if only I had scored a few more marks in Physics I would have been in my dream university in a totally different continent. Probably partying with frat boys rather than writing this post.
If only the winter wasn't so bad in my city back in 2008, my grandparents would not have gone back to our ancestral home and they might have been here,still alive. Probably calling me twice a day to make sure I ate.
But now when I look at all this in a bigger picture, I feel things happen because they are supposed to happen. You can never change the inevitable. If something has to happen,one way or the other it finds its way.
Even if all these changes hadn't happened,I still believe I would have been in pretty much the same place and loved by pretty much the same people.
Have a great day
Ritika
PS : If you like what I write, do like my facebook page for more updates :)
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20 comments
The chaos theory (butterfly effect being its offshoot) says that our actions follow a certain algorithm/equation and we tend to do things according to certain laws. Which is of course, unknown to us (at this point of time at least). This brings up another question - Are we partially controlled or totally controlled? Or is there such a thing called free will?
ReplyDeleteWe are bound to believe in free will because it makes us comfortable and think that we are the masters of our lives. Even discounting other people around us, this may still not hold true. Right now, I find Steve Job's theory of joining the dots (events happen and we come to know why they happen after sometime) most inspiring. It may or may not be true, but I like the concept.
Destination Infinity
PS: The takeaway should be: There is nothing to worry about what happened or what is happening. Just give your best shot at life and accept that certain things are out of our control. Bhagavad Geeta also says something similar, BTW.
I never knew about Steve Job's connecting the dots theory,but yes it does seem true. Remind me of an episode from How I met your Mother,I dont know if you have seen it,Ted misses an interview and later when he connects the dots it all happened because of a coin he found on a subway.
DeleteYes Bhagwad Geeta says the same,Karm kar phal ki chinta mat kar. Even if somethings in life are bound to me atleast I had like to believe I can change it in some proportion
Damned butterfly. :)
ReplyDeleteHihi :D
Deletesee the movie by the same name. 1st part is pretty nice.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMy friend yesterday was telling me the same thing when he read this post. I guess I'll have to watch it now :D
DeleteI will go and like that page, for I surly love reading what you are writing so keep it up..
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the movie butterfly effect ..
Things do happen as they are supposed to , How we react to them is up to us ..
Bikram's
Thanks a lot Bikramjit :)
DeleteI never knew this movie existed until yesterday and now that I know it has Ashtun Kutcher I am definitely going to watch it ;)
the movie is really highly underrated... the fact that u like Kutcher means ur gonna love it.. P.S. It is a serious movie.
DeleteAnd that reminds me, this is a surprisingly insightful post. A lot of depth and meaning to it and events from the past and how they've led you to this moment...
Thanks a lot Roshan :)
DeleteI read its review on IMDB too,seems pretty intriguing. I am going to watch all the three parts tomorrow only,good way to utilize the extended holiday ;)
How true it is for normal life. I still remember the question who I answered wrong that made me wait for 6 months to get into the university for my post grad. The little decisions indeed.
ReplyDeleteBut you know I believe in the end it all adds up. There is always a reason to everything
DeleteHaha! Anything that you gotta face in life is nothing, but some obscene paths already planned by the God almighty. Just chill and go ahead through the wonders in life.\m/ :)
ReplyDeleteRahul
Yeah,I guess
DeleteIt just gets too obscene sometimes ;)
without hard work and proper planning nothing happens.
ReplyDeleteYes, but I believe luck also plays some part
DeleteGood post and ur writing had taken me to the movie by same name.....
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why I haven't watched it till now, I so want to now :D
DeleteThat Sachin Tendulkar anecdote was clever :D
ReplyDeleteQuite interestingly, this article was published, a day before my birthday. I vividly remember that day, my sophomore year, and poor me anxiously awaiting the GPL (b'day bums) to be accorded by them 'frat boys' the following midnight :P
Might I add, that these small incremental happenings give us our true essence - sincerely hope the best for you!