We like to think that we plan what happens to us, but it is chance, surely, that lies behind so many of the great events of our lives -- the meeting with the person with whom we are destined to spend the rest of our days, the receiving of a piece of advice whic influences our choice of career, the spotting of a particular house for sale; all of these may be put down to pur chance, and yet they govern how our lives work out and how happy--or unhappy--we were going to be.
The idea that our lives are largely determined by chance is a profound one. Often, we believe that we are in control of our destinies, making careful plans and decisions. However, many significant events that shape our existence can be attributed to serendipity. Encounters with future partners, pivotal career advice, or finding the right home are not always the result of deliberate planning but rather random happenstance. This randomness plays a...
