Leonardo da Vinci
“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.”
This quote by Leonardo da Vinci, started me thinking about how present time links the past with the future.
It’s clear that the past is kept alive and carried forward through memories of, reactions to, and continued awareness of what has come before. And if my attention is fixed on negative emotions from the past – such as failure, loss, despair, hopelessness, blame, resentment, fear, or regret, these are carried with me.
Conversely, if my thoughts are on positive feelings of happiness – action, competence, confidence, serenity, forgiveness, friendship, love of life, self and others – these are carried along with me into my present time.
So, whether positive or negative, my perception of life, the environment, people and situations in present time, is colored accordingly.
Ultimately, the seeds of your future are created and carried with you at all times – brought into being by your decisions, thoughts, ideas and feelings about life at any moment and kept alive by your continuing attention on them. If neglected or ignored, they eventually wither and die.
In this manner, present time becomes a prediction of your future.
My discovery though, was something I hadn’t considered before: the future does indeed unfold with inexorable certainty, but in extremely minute increments. It doesn’t happen all at once.
This is not to imply that it takes a long time, it only takes as long as necessary to bring it about. Big changes do occur, but only when countless small ones have preceded them.
Therefore, to create a future that you desire, begin right now – in present time. Start with one clear, unambiguous decision of what you intend to accomplish. For at that moment the universe begins a process of aligning to your dictates, rather than the reverse, and bringing about the changes you desire. Act as if your present time were your future . . . for it soon will be.
So, prepare the soil, plant the seeds in your present time, nurture, care for and protect their growth until they develop into a future that can sustain a new life on their own.
Soon the seeds of your future begin showing up as a desirable present time . . . just as you hoped.
Enjoy the ride. I know I will.
daniel w. jacobs
(c) 2009-2020, all rights reserved
Written as a gift to my friends on my birthday on the twentieth of May 2009.
“The Seeds of Your Future” to me – it is wonderful, and at the heart of grateful living practice, too: being mindful of and appreciating each present moment. When you cultivate that practice life just gets better and better.
With all good wishes,
- Margaret
Dan,
On your birthday letter you sent me, “The Seeds of Your Future” – I realized I’ve been trying to swim UPSTREAM instead of DOWNSTREAM. You thoughts cleared that up for me. It should be far easier and enjoyable now!
Thank you. – jc