What Will Be, Will Be

This statement is one that I heard many years ago and to a large degree I have led my life this way. Why you may well ask? The truth is that I often wonder if we can really change our lives or is it simply planned out for us well in advance? Maybe even from the day we take our first breath in this world. Is it possible that the path we take is pre-determined for us? Actually, I think it is!

I came up the hard way in life and I had to make my own luck at times, even now I still feel I am.

Everything that has happened in life to me, I have felt was something that I had no choice with, but it made me the person I am today.

A moment in my early twenties that happened to me is still as clear as if it was just yesterday. I went out to Australia in my my late teens, but after a couple of years I decided I wanted to return to the UK and for some reason that still baffles me. I wanted to live and work on the island of Jersey for a summer season because it appeared to be fun and I was young and most likely very foolish.

So I left Australia with a backpack with the intention of seeing many places along the way on my journey back to the UK, and I did exactly that. After a number of months I found myself in London staying in a hostel with the intention of catching a train to Weymouth to get a ferry to Jersey.

So the following day I was on an underground railway platform waiting for a tube train to get to the train station. With my backpack strapped firmly to my back minding my own business smoking a cigarette. Yes, we were allowed smoke in those days on the platforms!

Nothing has ever frightened or scared me in life. If I’m honest my biggest fear was the fear of what I could be capable of, but this particular moment I will admit left me feeling very frightened.

Looking down towards the end of the platform I could see in the distance three people walking towards me. I didn’t take a lot of notice if I’m honest, but as they came into focus I realised they were three skinheads, two guys and a girl totally kitted out with the customary facial tattoos. Please don’t think I’m stereotyping people, but they did looked very scary!

Something that needs to said is that there was only one other person on the platform. I remember clearly thinking should I turn and run? However, there was not much point as I had a huge rucksack on my back therefore I wouldn’t get very far. I was very frightened and as they drew in front of me I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to get a beating and that was that.

Standing there wanting to be beamed to a different place or planet anywhere but on this railway platform. They finally were in front of me, and the skinhead in the middle spoke and simply said let’s have a smoke mate. My shock was one of total disbelief! I struggled to find the cigarette packet from within my pocket and eventually I did. They all took one and I gave them a light. They said thanks and walked on, leaving me a nervous and shaking in fear. Omg ! I nearly wet myself and I’m serious. The moment had passed as quick as it came. All very strange.

You see I believe it wasn’t my time for anything bad to happen to me because I believe the path that life had laid out for me, I had to continue walking along it. It’s what will be will be. I didn’t have a choice in it. Life had other plans for me which of course I knew nothing about at that time. I think destiny planned out for me to have five children.

I went on to Jersey and worked for a summer season there. I had an amazing time and then went back to Australia for their summer.

Looking back at this now with the world we live in today, I don’t believe it’s very different. It was dangerous, violent and full of problems then, just as it is today. The difference is when something happens today it’s around the world in a split second.

Would love to hear your thoughts.