The People We Meet and the Things We Do

                              Some have stated,  "That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind." This seemingly simple quote is one that has influence in our everyday lives more than we know. Most of us  live this quote everyday. For example, we live with or deal with a consequence of  a previous action. We live with the reality that all the actions we take, words we say, or anything we do, has the  potential to significantly impact someone's life. Whether it's a smile or a smirk, even our simplest actions, can influence someone's life in a way we can not always predict.

 

 

                                Throughout the cycle of life, we all meet strangers who become friends and friends who become strangers. Each of these people has contributed to our acting or feeling a certain way because of something they did, said, or a feeling they evoked upon us. This holds true for the novel.  For instance, in The Five People You Meet in Heaven, there was a scene where the main character, Eddie, ran out into the street trying to retrieve his lost ball. Because Eddie wasn't paying attention when he ran out into the street, a driver almost ran him over. Afterwards, the driver had a heart attack and died while driving his car due to the scare he got from almost running over Eddie. From that moment on, even though they did not know specifically, Eddie and the driver were connected.  It was the driver's time to die and it was Eddie who played a part in the driver's death. Each of these acts are connected to the other, and they each have a purpose. The fact that neither one of them realized their role in each other's lives is insignificant on the outcome of the impact.

 

 

 

                           In everyday life, we have to learn to deal with the good and the bad. What some may say with good intention, others may interpret with bad thoughts. What few of us realize is that telling someone their hair looks bad or good has an effect on them either way. For example, as a young child, Eddie's father neglected and abused him. Instead of turning his back on the man who brought him so much pain, Eddie focused on pleasing his father, to the extent where Eddie got a job where his Dad worked, Ruby Pier.  Without this direction, even  after his father abused him, Eddie would not have met his wife. The negative drive from his relationship with his father, drove Eddie to a place where he would find a meaningful relationship with his wife.


There are no random acts. To believe this is to know that what you do in the smallest part of your day may influence others.  There  is an awareness in recognizing that every action invokes a second reaction.  In life, we have to be prepared for the reactions - good or bad.