Sensing the Inevitable

There are times when people get a quasi sixth sense, a sort of intuition. The ability to see things beyond the obvious (and sometimes, see what is obvious yet overlooked by many) and predict the impending outcome of situations. It's not magic or innate psychic abilities, but more of a combination of years of experience and wisdom with regards to human behavior that provides these unexplainable moments of clairvoyance.

Most often than not, these moments are best characterized as moments wherein one wishes to be wrong. "People can surprise you", true, but it wouldn't be called a surprise if it happens frequently enough. How then, should one handle such scenarios?

On one hand, you have optimism. Go against gut feel and logic and risk it all. While the Rambler has always ascribed to such reckless, devil-may-care choices which results to a pittance of fleeting regret, we cannot take away that feeling of self-loathing. A resonating "You knew this would happen" plays over and over again in our heads - an afterimage of stupidity, irrationality and a constant reminder of pain. This leads us to question: "was it worth it?" Despite knowledge that the game we are about to play a game that cannot be won, will the moral victory of saying "at least I tried" overshadow the realization that we fell to the grips of idiocy and futile wishful thinking?

On the other hand, we could salvage our pride and dignity by simply killing off such thoughts and feelings. Maybe even walk away, lick your wounds and focus on moving on to the next prospect. As defeatist as it may sound, it is quite difficult to refute the logic. Pull back before you get in too deep. Pain would be minimal, but would there's always that nagging feeling that could easily turn to regret or contemplation of what might have been.

Then again, what if you were wrong? What if, despite all the clear and obvious signs, you actually misread the message? Or maybe prevalent cynicism and negativity has clouded your judgment?

You'd think that having such foresight would prove beneficial. But why is it, whenever we sense the inevitable, we are more conflicted at what to do?