Where are we going?

"What are you going to be when you grow up?"

"What college are you going to go to?"

"What do you want to do after college?"

"When are you getting married?"

"When do you want to have kids?"

"When are you going to retire?"

I have been asked all of these questions at one point or another in my life. These questions have often shaped the steps that I have taken to become successful in many of my ventures. It starts at such a young age. I think the first time I was asked one of these questions I was seven years old. My uncle was inquiring about my future in football, but I told him I wanted to be an astronaut. He was sorely disappointed but I think he got over it. As a society we have a soaring fascination with the future. We push this not only on ourselves but also on the ones that we love. These all seem like innocent questions but at the core they force the next generation to prematurely figure out how they are going to change the world.

I think we miss the aspect of whether or not we are supposed to change this world. Now I know I am getting kind of philosophical, but honestly, who says that we are supposed to do anything. I look at my own life and all I want to do is make enough money to provide for my family and to feel as little pain as possible. I want to be happy. What's so wrong with this?

I hear these words thrown around occasionally; Destiny, fate, karma, and they all remind me of one thing. Who is truly playing the game. If these ideas truly exist, if I am supposed to do certain things, or meet certain people, or be a reactionary figure for a past life, then someone must be in control. Some men call it providence, like someone is watching out for us, taking care of us, placing us in the 'right' place at the 'right' time. But if this is true how can we explain all the pain in this world.

Where is our future and what does it hold for us?