My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest

Charles Kettering's declaration, "My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there," reveals a profound truth about the nature of time and the human spirit. His words are a call to embrace the future, to look forward with intention, curiosity, and purpose. The future, unlike the past, is the realm in which we all must live, and yet it is often treated with both fear and uncertainty. Kettering, with his insightful perspective, reminds us that our true focus should lie not in the regrets of the past, but in the endless possibilities that await us in the days to come.

In the ancient world, the idea of the future was deeply tied to the will of the gods. The Greeks, with their oracles and prophets, believed that the future was both fated and unknowable. Yet, their greatest heroes were those who embraced the uncertainties of the future and met them with courage and resolve. Consider Heracles, whose twelve labors were undertaken not out of certainty, but out of a desire to forge his path, to carve out a future that transcended the limits of his beginnings. Like Kettering, Heracles' strength lay in his willingness to move forward, to meet the challenges of the unknown with his very being.

The Romans, too, were no strangers to the challenges and opportunities of the future. In the story of Julius Caesar, we see a leader whose vision of the future led him to reshape the world around him. Caesar, through his conquest of Gaul and his subsequent rise to power, was not simply reacting to the present moment. He was actively shaping a future for himself and for his empire. Kettering’s wisdom mirrors this sense of agency: to invest in the future is not to wait passively for it to unfold, but to actively create it with every decision we make, every step we take.

Kettering’s reflection also brings to mind the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who, though living in the 15th century, was driven by an almost prophetic vision of the future. He conceptualized flying machines, the study of human anatomy, and even the ideas of robotics—long before these things were conceivable to his contemporaries. His ability to look ahead, to imagine a future that was yet to be realized, not only marked him as one of the greatest minds in history, but also shows us that the future is a space for innovation, where the boundaries of what is possible are defined only by our imagination and determination.

The lesson in Kettering’s words is one of vision and action. The future is not a place we can simply wait for. It is a realm that we actively shape through our actions in the present. Just as the ancient philosophers and inventors understood that the world was not fixed, but in constant flux, so too must we see the future as a canvas upon which we can paint our lives. We must move forward with purpose, knowing that the steps we take today, no matter how small, will lay the foundation for the world we will live in tomorrow.

The practical action that arises from Kettering's wisdom is this: don’t be paralyzed by the past, and don’t get lost in worrying about an uncertain future. Instead, focus your energy on creating a future that reflects your values, your ambitions, and your dreams. Each day is an opportunity to build toward something greater, to invest in a future that will shape who you are. Whether through education, relationships, or your work, every action you take is a step forward into the life that you will one day live.

In our own lives, let us take Kettering’s counsel to heart. The future will come, but it is not something that happens to us—it is something that we create through our choices. Let us look ahead with courage, embracing the unknown with open hearts, and recognizing that the rest of our lives lie in the boundless future that we shape. The future is not a mystery to be feared; it is a gift to be embraced, and it is ours to craft with every breath we take, every decision we make. Live forward, and the future will unfold as a reflection of your deepest aspirations and actions.