STOCHASTICITY

     Yup, that was a new one for me too. It has to do with randomness and how we often recognize it after it happened, and often see whatever we are looking back at, as a miracle. For example, a baseball landing exactly between two outfielders, neither able to reach it on time, a runner scores and the game is lost or won, depending upon the team. One knew the ball would go somewhere when hit, but exactly just where was random, a miracle at that needed moment and event. That is the randomness that occurs along with certainty. We are sure the ball will land somewhere - certainty - but exactly where - stochasticity.
     My new piece of knowledge came while reading a marvelous book, The Falling Woman, by Richard Farrell. The story is fascinating, a woman falling from the sky, as the airplane in which she was seated blew up. Randomness as to her survival, or a miracle? Whatever it was, whatever people read into it, claiming miracles due to her, or those who screamed fraud, it offered her a second chance.
      But what do we do with second chances? She was already dying from pancreatic cancer, so why did she live? Why was she 'chosen' - or was she? The seats were chosen randomly by the passengers, so, a miracle she chose that one or a random choice due to a whim or what was available? The answers depend upon the vision, the view, of the reader, or thinker.
     As she lands, her own thinking is that "somehow, by some trick of fate or some quirk of physics, I survived." Miracle? Randomness? Did it really matter? Then came the hard part. What does one do with this 'miracle', this second chance? Does one do the expected? In a discussion between two of the main characters, one states that it is all "about getting to the bottom of things, figuring out what happened..... a commitment". But the question and answer still awaiting us are forcing the characters to rethink much of their beliefs, the remnants of their former lives, their former principles and tenets by which they lived.
     Not everyone gets a chance, even if just prior to dying, to rethink and re-opt their choices of principles of life. Do they have to please all, immerse themselves so deeply that they lose themselves? Or is it permissible to take into account the wishes and needs of themselves, even if contrary to standard thinking, even if it will hurt others who might or might not ever come to understand these decisions? Does society rule always or do the immediate and eternal needs of the person take precedence. Note, that this does not allow for criminal behavior, only a different 'view' of life, one that can sometimes only be seen clearly after an act of 'stochasticity', forced into that crux of a moment, that choice for a lifetime, however long it might be, or whatever the consequences.
     This story hit me right in the gut. Well written and well worth reading, caught up in the contents immediately, on page one, it is worthwhile for that alone. However, considering the times we live in, will continue to live in for the foreseeable future, the novel goes deeper than that. The author pushes the reader, using his words, the momentum of the plot, forces one to think about her/his own life. Has one lived a worthwhile life? Would she, should she, have done differently and if so, can she do it now? 
     What was her view of life and was she true to it or did she lose her way? Can one return to that lost path, live how one believes is the right way for oneself, deal with the hurt and anger to all sides that might occur? Is that the right thing to do? The wrong thing? Does it change according to the randomness of the event? How does one choose, rate the necessity, the importance of a final decision? Does one remain true to oneself or not? Finally, has one lived a worthwhile life, leaving a legacy, does something good in life and is there still a chance, even when dying, or even when seemingly locked into a hard place where life and former choices and thinking have placed the person? Does one need to fall out of a plane or an equivalent to re-view the world, and review one's own life?
     Being in a situation where we are warned that age and underlying conditions make one more vulnerable to the virus, to survival, this book, its thought provoking content, spoke to me. All die, a part of the life cycle of all living things - and even inanimate things - in a way. We need to know that and all our frantic efforts to postpone that moment, not thinking it through to the end as to what will that life be, what will we gain - or lose- and what will be the effect upon our loved ones, well, perhaps we need to redo this part of our thinking. 
      Perhaps we need to think about doing something worthwhile with the time we have left. Perhaps we need to think about our view of life and how it has changed, for better or worse, over our lifetime. Perhaps we need to open ourselves up to new thinking, to trust, to friendship, to taking a chance on new paths, to being true to ourselves. It is a second chance and one need not fall out of that sky or have another stunning moment of randomness to hit them on the head for this thinking to occur, for life to change for the better -at least for that person. And remember, the change is one that is presumed to be a positive one, one that will lead to a satisfactory conclusion at some point. One that will fulfill the words of Shakespeare, "To thine own self be true."
     I have made my peace with the approach of the end of a phase of life. I have acknowledged that there are conditions that will probably set that stage into play sooner, rather than later. I have rethought much of life, am satisfied that I did what was right for me and for my family, been, for the most part, a contributor rather than a taker. I have enjoyed my career, loving each glorious moment of teaching, when the joy of learning and understanding lit up the faces of students, and the learning that I received from them as well. My children and grandchildren are beginning to make their way into the world as principled and caring contributing members of society, Thus, my views has changed somewhat, more outspoken about society and its needs, more forthright with my words, and know that when this door closes, there will be a legacy, a positive one.
    I believe that this novel should be read by all, thought abut and spoken about. It is that good.
     Enjoy  life, understand the randomness, know the importance of it, and be thankful for learning a new word!! Always time to learn new things. That is what makes life both interesting and expansive.
Second chances can be made by oneself so do you want one? Make one. Take a chance on yourself.