Adventures in the Space-Time Continuum

We are all time travelers, whether reluctant or unaware or purposeful. We move forward through time at our own pace, impeded or rocketed forward by the powerful momentum of our expectations and preparation. The choice is ours, even when we are hopelessly stuck in the past or momentarily paralyzed by fear or regret. Whether a bitter trudge of negativity or a quick dance of optimism, we choose, and we affirm our choice in a hundred small decisions. We shape it by the way we look at things. We clothe ourselves for the journey, signalling our intentions as hostile or hopeful, armed for success or armored woefully with defensiveness and uncertainty.

If our stores are full of energy and we have mapped out what we want, the future is a bright place. Powerful and positive impulses guide our steps. If we let a death grip of self-imposed misery infect our outlook, our course is ragged and dangerous. We maroon ourselves. We steer toward asteroid belts and force fields and black holes, usually the same ones we've found before. The future looks like the past. The future can become a lonely outpost of dread or madness. It can look predestined and helpless.

It's not. Tomorrow is as awful or graceful as our forecast. It is determined by the stars we choose to guide us. A parent's love or a spouse's devotion is a powerful force that resonates through our lives, but even in the absence of these, we can choose our own course. We can define ourselves in a new way. Hold up your thumb to a bright star. Be confident in your reckoning. Choose your most stalwart companions and fear nothing. Go boldly and live well.