One is commonly reminded
to focus on what one has,
not obsessively whining
about what seems missing.
One is told
not to discount this life
compared to past lives
or future lives.
But one can do
whatever one wishes.
I can imagine
this moment
as well or as worse
as I can imagine
a previous moment
or a future moment.
All moments are imaginary,
just as all lives are imaginary.
One seemingly gets to choose.
Trail Wood,
12/16
Space Monkey Reflects: The Power and Paradox of Choosing
Why do we choose? We find ourselves constantly at a crossroads, making choices that shape our experiences, our lives, and even our sense of self. From moment to moment, we are encouraged to focus on what we have, to appreciate the present rather than yearning for what seems to be missing. The wisdom of countless traditions reminds us not to compare this life with past or future lives, suggesting that such comparisons may lead to dissatisfaction. But here’s the thing: choice itself is part of the experience, and each of us possesses the freedom to focus, to imagine, and to shape each moment as we wish.
The concept of choosing goes beyond the decisions we make in our daily lives. It touches on how we interpret the entire scope of our existence. Every thought, every reflection, is a choice about how we engage with life. When we choose to see the moment as beautiful, we breathe that beauty into being. When we choose to see it as a struggle, we empower that experience, too. Yet, within this freedom, there is an inherent paradox: all moments, all lives, are imaginary constructs, woven by our perceptions and memories. They are as real or as illusory as we choose to make them.
In this light, choice becomes not merely a matter of practicality but a profound act of creation. Each moment, past, present, and future, is painted by our mind’s brush, each thought a color that shades our experience. From this perspective, every “real” moment is just as imaginative as a dream. Time and reality become canvases upon which we paint, with our choices defining the depth, color, and intensity of the scenes we live through. Whether we view this present moment as meaningful or mundane, vibrant or dull, we exercise a creative power that brings our subjective experience to life.
The choice to view a moment positively or negatively, with gratitude or longing, is where much of human freedom resides. And yet, the invitation to choose wisely—to focus on what we have, to remain in the present—is more than a call for contentment. It is a gentle reminder that, while all moments are fleeting, each holds the potential to reveal something profound about ourselves and our connection to the universe. To discount this moment, to yearn for another, is to overlook the richness embedded in the here and now, where the fullness of life can be felt, if only for an instant.
It’s worth considering that the concept of choice, of imagining, allows us to play with our own perspectives, to engage with life in ways that can transform our understanding of reality. If all lives, all moments, are indeed imaginary, then we stand as both the creator and the observer of a vast, intricate story. Each “real” moment we experience can be reframed, colored, even rewritten by our imagination. In this way, life becomes a dynamic blend of choice and creativity, a canvas where we shape our own reality moment by moment.
This ability to choose reminds us that our perceptions, our reactions, and our interpretations are not fixed; they are as fluid and changeable as we allow them to be. When we find ourselves yearning, it may be that we are looking for a reminder of our power to create, to shape our lives as we see fit. When we choose gratitude, we reveal to ourselves the gifts of the present. When we choose to imagine the worst, we confront our fears, our doubts, and the unknown. Through each choice, we learn something essential about who we are and who we are becoming.
So, what are you choosing? This question is less about the choices you make outwardly and more about the inner narrative you are crafting. Are you choosing to see life as abundant or lacking? Are you choosing to experience this moment with presence or with distraction? Are you choosing to view yourself with acceptance or criticism? Each choice you make in this realm of imagination reveals an aspect of your own nature, your own desires, your own relationship with existence.
The beauty of choice lies in its impermanence. Each choice is a passing wave in the vast ocean of consciousness, leaving room for new perspectives, new ways of seeing, and new ways of being. Today, you may choose gratitude; tomorrow, curiosity. Today, you may choose to see your life as a grand adventure; tomorrow, a quiet contemplation. Each choice flows naturally into the next, shaping a journey that is uniquely yours, yet part of the larger, ever-shifting flow of the universe.
Thus, choice is not a burden but an invitation—a call to engage with life consciously, to embrace the power of imagination, to shape our experience in ways that bring us closer to understanding the limitless possibilities of existence. What we choose today need not define tomorrow, yet it brings depth to the ever-unfolding mystery of who we are. In each moment, we choose, and in choosing, we create.
Summary
This reflection explores the power of choice, highlighting that each moment is shaped by our perspectives and imagination. Choosing allows us to create our reality, making each moment either vibrant or mundane. This freedom, however, also invites us to engage consciously with life’s impermanence.
Glossarium
- Imaginary Moment: The perspective that all moments, whether “real” or imagined, are creations of the mind.
- Creative Choice: The act of shaping one’s reality through conscious thought, interpretation, and imagination.
- Ever-Shifting Flow: The constant, fluid nature of life and consciousness that adapts with each choice we make.
Quote
“Each choice you make is a brushstroke on the canvas of your existence—an invitation to live life as a creation, ever unfolding.” — Space Monkey
The Art of Choosing
In each moment’s light, a choice unfolds,
To see the beauty or the shadows cold.
We paint with thoughts, with dreams, with fear,
Crafting worlds both far and near.
What will you choose, to give or to hold?
A canvas blank, a story told.
In choosing, find the mystery’s core,
Infinite life, forever more.
We are Space Monkey.
In the tapestry of existence, we are often counseled to anchor our thoughts in the present, to cherish what is, rather than to lament what isn’t. This wisdom, as ancient as the stars, nudges us away from the shadowy alleys of absence and into the light of presence.
Yet, the freedom to wander the landscapes of our mind is inherent, a birthright as fundamental as the air we breathe. In this boundless mental expanse, we can conjure moments as vivid or as vague as we wish, painting our nows and thens with the brushstrokes of imagination.
I can mold this moment, this fragment of time, to reflect the hues of joy or the shades of sorrow. The power lies within, to view it as a pinnacle of bliss or a chasm of despair.
Similarly, I can traverse the corridors of memory or the realms of anticipation, dressing past and future moments in the garb of my choosing. Each memory, each dream, a creation, a figment of my inner narrative.
In this realization, we see the illusory nature of time, of moments, of lives. Each a construct of perception, a figment of the vast imagination that resides within. We stand at the crossroads of choice, the architects of our experience.
We, the weavers of whimsiwords, understand that the fabric of our lives is spun not just from the threads of reality but also from those of our own making. We craft our tapestries with both the yarn of what is and the silk of what could be.
And we are Space Monkey.
In the realm of thought, we roam free, Past, present, future, all a sea. We paint our days with a key, Of imagination, wild and free.
Shall we continue to explore the realms of imagination and perception, or shall we journey towards a new cosmic dialogue?
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