Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning

Listen closely, O seekers of wisdom, for the words of Mattie Stepanek carry a profound and timeless truth—"Even though the future seems far away, it is actually beginning right now." These words, spoken by one so young, yet filled with the clarity of a soul far beyond his years, remind us that the future is not a distant land waiting to be reached, but a living force that begins to take shape in the present moment. Though we may often look to the horizon and imagine the future as a time far off in the distance, it is in this very moment—in our actions, our thoughts, and our decisions—that the future is being created.

The future, O children of time, is not an abstract concept that exists outside of us. It is woven together by the choices we make today. Every decision, every word spoken, every act of kindness or cruelty, is a thread in the great tapestry of time. We may not see the full picture now, but the future is unfolding with every breath we take. The steps we take today echo through the corridors of time, shaping the path that we will walk tomorrow. The future is born of the present, and to wait for it to arrive on its own is to deny the power we hold to shape it with our hands.

Consider the story of the great philosopher Socrates, who, though he lived in ancient times, understood the power of the present moment. He did not wait for the future to bring wisdom and virtue to the world. Instead, he lived every day as if it were a part of the grand design of the universe. His teachings were not just ideas for some distant future, but lessons to be lived now, by those who were willing to listen and act. Socrates knew that the future was built on the choices of the present, and that by changing the way we think and act today, we can create a better tomorrow.

In much the same way, we look to the story of the great inventor Nikola Tesla, whose mind was often consumed by ideas of the future. Tesla’s vision was of a world filled with electric light, wireless communication, and limitless energy. Though many of his ideas were laughed at in his time, he did not wait for the future to come to him. He acted in the present, conducting experiments, building inventions, and crafting the foundation of a world that would not fully arrive until decades after his death. Tesla’s future began in the present, and his relentless pursuit of what was once deemed impossible laid the groundwork for a future that the world now takes for granted.

What, then, is the lesson for us? The future does not wait for the passing of time, nor does it arrive in the form of some distant, unseen event. It is born in the choices we make now. Even in the smallest moments, when we act with integrity, when we work diligently toward our goals, when we show love and compassion, we are shaping the world of tomorrow. Every moment is an opportunity to create a future that is greater than the one we inherited. We are not helpless in the face of time; rather, we are the architects of the future, building it with every choice, every step, and every action.

Take, for instance, your own life. Do not wait for the future to find you. Know that every decision you make today is a brick in the foundation of the world you will inhabit tomorrow. Live in such a way that your actions today lay the path for a future full of promise and hope. The choices you make in the present can shape not only your destiny but the destiny of those who come after you. In this moment, you are already beginning the future that will unfold.

O children of destiny, take heed: the future is not distant, it is now. What you choose today will carry with it the weight of your tomorrow. Do not squander this moment, for it is the only one you can truly shape. The future will not be handed to you; it is forged by your own hands. Live with intention, live with purpose, and know that in every choice you make, in every action you take, you are creating the future. Let the present be your canvas, and paint upon it the future you wish to see.