On Envisioning Your Tomorrow

Imagine for a moment that you’re walking along a path in the woods. It’s dark, but somewhere in the distance, you notice the flicker of dancing firelight. As you get a little closer, you begin to see the silhouette of someone sitting there by the fire and you feel drawn to go and join them.

“May I sit with you?” you ask. They tap a spot for you in the dirt next to them. “I’ve been waiting for you.” they whisper, in a voice just loud enough for you to hear.

You sit down and peer over at this unusual stranger with silver hair and a smiling profile that’s gently etched with wrinkles. “Do I know you?” .

This time, the stranger says nothing. They turn towards you and take both of your hands in theirs. When your eyes meet, you realize that this stranger isn’t a stranger at all, but is in fact a much older version of you. You are awestricken, enthralled, and stunned into silence.

Finally, you work up the courage to speak. “May I ask you a question?” They nod their head yes. So you ask them— “What is it that made your life worth living?”

You listen intently as the much older you tells you their truth in complete and utter detail. And it’s a beautiful truth, even more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. .

How can I ever thank you?” you ask. “All I want in return is one thing.” they say. “Promise me that you will use what was said here around this fire to fuel you in your life today and in all of your tomorrows.”

“I promise,” you say. “I promise.”

How will you measure your life in the end? When you look back on the days that are behind you, what is it that you want to see? How do you want to be remembered? What kind of legacy would you like to leave? .

We can’t expect to live our lives fully today if we are not able to envision who and what will truly matter to us in our most distant tomorrow. Is the story that you’re writing now the one that will get you to the kind of ending that your heart desires?