do things happen for a reason?

Im not quite ready to discuss all the details just yet but I came *this* close to having something I have always wanted. Nothing materialistic but something I have had my heart and mind set on for a long time now. Nothing you can buy in the shops and something that was ultimately was out of my control. I really was so close and all of a sudden my dream has been taken away just as quickly as it came along. I am a sometimes beleiver in the saying 'things happen for a reason' but at the moment between the tears its hard to see why some things work out and others dont. People have always said that 'there will always be bigger and better oppourtunities' but really, will there? When you have your heart set on something specific and it doesn't work out, are there still the same oppourtunities available or is that when people settle for less and become cynical and bitter?

And the saying 'things happen for a reason' bugs me. It seems like its just something you say to someone when you dont really know what else to say. Really, it just seems like another way of saying 'you didnt get what you want, now get over it'

Do I see myself becoming the above mentioned type? bitter, maybe just a bit. For now anyway. The more time I have to think about it the angrier I get. Which puts my focus on another one of those cliched sayings. 'Does time really heal all?' I beleive that time is making me angrier. As each day passes its yet another day away from having what I wanted.

I pray that time will eventually heal all and that better oppourtunities will eventually come along. If that is even possible.