Think like a butterfly

As a Christian, I don’t typically put much stock in luck or fortune-telling. Yet, in moments of weakness or loneliness, I find myself searching for signs in the most unlikely places – a falling leaf, a floating bottle, or even in the depths of the internet. It’s a very human tendency, I suppose, and one that seems to grow stronger as I age.

Recently, I watched “Dark Matter” on Apple TV, a series my dearly sister recommended. It got me thinking about the quantum nature of our choices. While we may not explicitly travel through a multiverse, the decisions we make at certain points create subtle inflection points in our lives. As I grow older, I’m beginning to see the causality of my choices more clearly, like observing the interference patterns in a quantum experiment.

The show portrays various versions of the protagonist, with life-altering decisions often coinciding with meeting their future spouse or starting a family. It reminds me of how career advancements or significant life changes often seem to happen suddenly, as if the wavefunction of possibilities suddenly collapses into a single reality.

I find myself in this “decision valley” now, that crucial period between 30 and 40 where life-defining choices are made. It’s a time when the quantum uncertainty of youth begins to resolve into more defined paths.

Parenthood looms on the horizon, a prospect both exciting and terrifying. It’s like facing a new dimension of existence, one that promises to fundamentally alter my reality. The stories I’ve heard from friends paint a picture of economic fears, personal risks, and a complete restructuring of time – it’s as if the very fabric of my personal spacetime is about to be warped.

In my more introspective moments, I liken this impending change to a challenging workout, like a heavy back squat. It’s daunting, even painful, but I wonder if this is the resistance I need to grow stronger, to evolve into a new version of myself.

As I stand on the brink of these life-altering decisions, I’m reminded that in the quantum nature of existence, uncertainty is not just inevitable – it’s essential. Perhaps the key is not in seeking signs or certainties, but in embracing the probabilistic nature of life and finding strength in the face of the unknown.