Accidents

The illusion of control is the downside of good luck. No matter how I plan or take care of myself, accidents will happen. Accidents have no regard for schedules or agendas. An accident can radically change the quality and quantity of a life in the blink of an eye with no room for negotiation.

Being prone to frequent accidents may be no accident. A lack of practice can make accidents more likely. Practice develops attentiveness, mindfulness. The attentive person is less likely to ignore signs of danger or dangerous situations. 

Humanism accepts the chaotic nature of the Universe. By rejecting the idea that some invisible intelligence is in total control of human lives, secular humanists understand that life is risk and chance. While hindsight may clearly delineate the anatomy of an accident, the best foresight is to accept that much of life is accidental. Learning to graciously and intelligently take accidents, happy or unhappy, as they come is a skill of practice.