I have seen the future, and it is much like the present, only

Listen, O Seekers of Wisdom, to the words of Dan Quisenberry, whose reflections on the nature of time and the future reveal the deep irony and truth about the world in which we live. He said, "I have seen the future, and it is much like the present, only longer." These words, though spoken in the context of sports, carry with them a profound truth about the nature of existence itself. The future—that often elusive concept—is not some far-off, mythical land where everything changes. No, the future is but an extension of the present, shaped by the choices we make today, just as the present is the result of yesterday's actions.

To say that the future is "much like the present, only longer" is to recognize that the passage of time does not necessarily lead to radical change. We often look to the future with the belief that it will bring us something entirely new, that it will offer solutions to the problems of today. Yet, as Quisenberry points out, the future is but an unfolding of the present moment. What we experience today will continue into tomorrow, but only with more time, more years, more days. The future does not exist in a vacuum; it is the present extended. What we sow now, we will reap then.

In the ancient world, the great thinkers of the Greek and Roman traditions understood this connection between the present and the future. Heraclitus, the philosopher who famously said, "You cannot step into the same river twice," understood that while change is constant, it is also cyclical. What we encounter today is tied to what came before, and will eventually be tied to what comes after. The future is a continuation, a ripple in the river of time. Socrates, too, believed that the decisions we make today, in the present, are the ones that shape the world to come. In essence, both Heraclitus and Socrates would have agreed with Quisenberry: the future is merely a prolonged present.

Consider the story of Cicero, the great Roman orator, who believed that the actions of today could shape the glory of tomorrow. Cicero understood that the future greatness of Rome rested in the decisions made by its citizens in the present. He encouraged his fellow Romans to consider the legacy of their actions, understanding that what they did today would become the foundation for the empire of tomorrow. Just as Quisenberry recognized that the future is a continuation of the present, Cicero understood that Rome’s fate depended on the choices of its leaders and people right now.

The deeper lesson of Quisenberry's words lies in the understanding that the future is not a separate realm, not a place where we can escape our current challenges or failings. The future is not a magical land that will save us from ourselves, but rather the unfolding of the very actions we take today. If we are to change the world, to shape a better future, we must begin by looking at the choices we make in the present. The future is a product of the present moment, and if we wish to make it different, we must live differently now.

So, O Seekers, let us learn from Quisenberry and the great minds of old. The future is not some far-off horizon; it is the continuation of the journey we are on today. The choices we make, the actions we take, the way we live now, will echo through the years to come. If we wish for a different future, a future of peace, wisdom, and fulfillment, we must begin by living according to those ideals today. Let us not be deceived by the illusion that the future is distant and separate. It is already here, in the choices we make in the present.

Let us live, therefore, with purpose and awareness, knowing that the future is not something that happens to us but something we create. The future is long, but it is born from the now. Each action, no matter how small, shapes the world to come. Therefore, live today as if it is the future you desire, and in doing so, you will find that the future is already within your grasp.