The future as I see it.

It is Sunday, September 11, 2005 as I am writing this and I am finally just settling in from the Premiere Beauty Show in Orlando Florida. It has been a wild few weeks. Devastating hurricane going on while we were in Orlando, the anniversary of September 11, Gas prices topping $3.45 per gallon.

I just watched a documentary about September 11. It reminded me what a scary time that was. But it also reminded me that we live in the greatest time the world has ever seen. Even through amazing devastation we as a people and a society have survived, and are stronger for it.

Even in our personal challenges, when all seems lost, some how we pull through. I have someone who I consider very close to me who is going through an extraordinarily difficult time personally right now. I know she will make it through this difficult time and come out with more personal belief in herself.

I believe we are hinging on a number of breakthroughs that will totally change the world and improve everyone’s lives. These types of breakthroughs are sometimes called "paradigm shifts". In other words, the world was one way before and is now somehow different, hopefully for the better.

The last few generations have seen dramatic changes. I used to own a black and white TV that I would play my Atari 2600 on. My dad had a 4 track tape player in his car. I remember playing records when I was young. I know where the beef is. I remember when Pac Man was single. When the movie Red Dawn came out I remember a story about the electricity going out because of a storm in the state where the movie took place. I was in second grade when the first Space Shuttle was launched, now they are talking about retiring the fleet.

These are all things my children will never know about unless I tell them. What will the world be like when my youngest son turns 30 in 2032. There are many things I heard about when I was young that never came true. I don't have a flying car in my garage. But there are also so many things that have come to pass that could have never been foreseen. Like Post-its. We have had paper for thousands of years, but only in the last 20 could we stick it to a wall.

We have come so far, yet we also have so far to go. I hear about people shooting at rescue workers during the hurricane evacuations. How stupid is that? I do however truly believe that as a people we are getting better every day. Terrible things have always happened; we just hear about them more often today. I do believe there are less terrible things going on now then there ever have been before. The future is defiantly bright. There was an article the other day I read about how we are living longer than ever, there is less crime then ever and there are fewer wars in the world now than at any other time.

It is truly an amazing time to live. I need to take a few minutes every day to reflect on everything that I have personally, emotionally and physically. From this point forward I pledge to take a few minutes every day to reflect on where I have been, where I am and where I want to go. I hope you will join me.