Everything Happens for a Reason?

Is it true that everything happens for a reason, or is that some phrase we overuse in an attempt to mask or deal with the emotions produced in any given situation, whether they be joy or sorrow or pain?


Could it be that things happen, just because they happen? That outcomes are produced simply because, and not for a certain reason? Unless we were to say that the reason is simply the causes that produced the recieved effect.


Either way you look at it, things happen that we don't always particularly like. Although, I would argue that sometimes things do or don't happen because of things we do or don't say or do. At the same rate, sometimes things do or don't happen because of the things we DO say or do.


Perhaps everything does happen for a reason...perhaps I will keep pondering on this.