What Does "The Future" Even Mean?

"What do you want to do with your life?" Yep, it's the top of the list for questions you receive at family events. The one that you almost always reply with "I don't know" or come up with some bullshit answer that is not necessarily on the cards. It comes up constantly for adolescents through teachers, parents, career advisers, television, etc, but have you actually resonated with the question yet, or are you avoiding it for as long as possible?

I've always hated those presenting people that come in and make you think about yourself in relations to your future. As a young person, I can only guarantee two things for you: I don't know who I am, and I certainly don't know where I'm going. But now the more I think about it, I realise I should probably start thinking about it.

The future is defined as the time that follows after what is happening right now, and now, and now. I don't imply to get too deep into the laws of time and physics and all that nonsense, but basically it is physically impossible to avoid the future, just like it is impossible to avoid death, assignments, and that one clingy person you know, so rule number one: STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. Yes, I am also a procrastinator, but like you I am also trying to fix that. I haven't written an article in a good 3 months yet here I am.

Think of your life as a timeline. You're the red dot just less than a quarter in, with probably not having conquered a lot of time on Earth yet. Imagine markings for everything you've accomplished to your left. With the stuff you accomplish on your left, you've opened up potential markings for the right side of the timeline such as jobs, friends, love interests, experience (or even closed a few, such as bad relationships). Think of the things you would like to achieve, and start doing small things now to lead up to that. I'm not saying you have to be a prodigy, just take baby steps until you feel like you are independent in that field.

Stop thinking of it as "What do you want to be in the future?" and start thinking of it as "What do you want to do now?"