Looking to the Future

By O. Astor

Close your eyes for a moment. Now imagine yourself in ten years’ time. What do you see? Do you feel content? A sense of excitement, purpose, or hope? Maybe you see yourself finishing university, graduating with that degree in marine biology you have always wanted. Or perhaps you see yourself striking out on your own – an entrepreneur, pitching the next big thing. Maybe you have finally published your fantasy book. Maybe you’re backpacking across China, trekking up verdant mountains by day, and stargazing endless star splattered skies by night. Maybe you’re anxiously awaiting your acceptance letter to NASA. Or perhaps you are simply glad to imagine a life without school, homework, and exams.

Those are all dream destinations – hopes and aspirations for the future that come in all shapes and sizes and are unique to everyone. I believe many (at least I do), tend to hyper fixate on these promising futures, and often forget to enjoy the moment now. We forget that these shiny visions are not yet real, and that there is still a whole long journey to complete before you arrive at that destination, a journey that may change and impact your outlook on life.

​Dream destinations change all the time, from a five-year old’s dream of becoming a vet morphing into a sixteen-year-olds dream of becoming a successful businessman. That is why it is so vital to keep an open mind about the future and not commit everything to one path. Things change unexpectedly all the time, and just because it seems you may not end up where you envisioned yourself, does not mean failure