Actively passive

One time my back went out suddenly, and I was in a lot of pain, to the point that I couldn't stand properly. The whole Shabbos I lay on the couch with an ice pack on my back, in agony, wishing the pain would go away.

After Shabbos my mother made an appointment at the chiropractor. I didn't really believe in them, but I figured, I might as well try, I don't have many options. The doctor had me take x-rays of my spine. She made some adjustments to my back, and then this is what she told me:

"It may feel better, it may feel worse, or it may not feel any different." Really? Thanks lady. You just fortified my doubts about chiropractors. Now I know why they are called quacks.

Thank G-d a few days later it was much better, and then eventually it went back to normal.

And I never could figure out if the chiropractor helped at all, or if it just got better on its own, and it would have gotten better anyway had I not gone to the chiropractor at all.

In life, we sometimes encounter certain situations, or obstacle. We try to find solutions and ways to get past it and overcome them.

And sometimes things just get better on their own, and 'work themselves out'.

My mother always says, 'Everything will work out just fine."

My question is, will things just magically work out, or is it my job to make it work? If I don't put in effort at all, will things get better? Will life just fall into place?

Life will happen with or without you. But wouldn't you rather be an active participant?

I guess that's the real question.