The future and how to face it forward

Manifest, be the main character, work hard, have strong morals and have an indomitable spirit to never quit. These are all pieces of advice I have heard throughout my life, told to me with the intention that practicing each of these things will ensure a strong future for me. But the truth is, what is the future? How can we truly ensure that we have the future we want? And, what happens when we don't get the future we dreamed off? Do we give up, let life go to waste? These questions and many more cannot be answered definitely because everyone has their own answer. However in this blog post, I’ll explore what truly is the future, how to face it forward, and to be honest, what it means to me.

I think the future is a strange concept. The future could honestly be an hour, day, week, month, or every year from your current time. It is truly unknown what amount of time constitutes the future. However, I feel like the general consensus is that when most people discuss the future it's for the long term. Most of the time, we already know what we are going to be doing in the next hour, day, or few days and if you really have it planned out, a whole week. However, it is the unknown events of months and years that are a little more spooky. A month is 30 days but sometimes those 30 days can be a drag, and a year, sometimes even a bigger drag. So to me the future is long-term and you can define long term in different ways. I like to think of it as the next big chapter in my life is the future I am striving for.

I think 2020 has shown us that you truly cannot predict the future. Who thought we would have wildfires, almost a world war 3, a global pandemic, or a social justice movement? Many people are now just praying that 2020 is over soon and that the future will be brighter. Personally, I think we are in for a surprise. Obviously, as much as unpredictable 2020 has been, I don't think it really has. I feel like as the world collectively we had a year coming for us that would be trans formative. It just happened to be at the turn of a new decade. History repeats itself and our actions in the past speak for themselves in the future. Why are the wildfires and crazy climate changes happening? Climate change and not taking action earlier. How come as a world we weren't prepared for a new pandemic? Because we simply didn't expect one and so we didn't prepare anything because we thought it would not be possible.

The future is being built as you lived in the past and in the present. Your actions have an impact. Maybe you don't know how exactly your actions will play out, but when something happens in the future we usually trace it back to the past. And that's how you face the future. Yes it is hazy and unclear, but if you live with intention in the present and learn from the past, you can have a sustainable future. Obviously, this is not 100% guaranteed. Sometimes you will get obstacles that are out of your control and that can change your vision. But I think what is beautiful for the unknown is that it could be the best thing that could happen to someone. Sometimes having that life-changing moment could put you on a better path than what you originally planned. I think it is just about treading the waters and making the right decision as you go. As they say, “go with the flow”.

For me, my future is hazy. I am a college student. I have a dream career and a dream location, and I have a very stable life plan. For most of my life, it has been straight line. I grew up in a normal family, in a normal house, went to school, came back, did homework, sleep, and repeat. There were a few caveats and challenges along the way, but I didn't have anything life changing. Mostly everything has been linear, up until the pandemic. The pandemic really changed my routine. It wasn’t life changing because I still did school, lived in a house, and led a “normal life”. However, it is the first event that really changed my perspective on the future and life in general. It showed me to treasure the small moments, never take anything for granted, and that the future is unpredictable, but, you should always find a way to adjust. This mindset is something that I will carry later on in my life.

The future is something you create, adapt to and live in. So take that chance, because your life is just a one time thing.