Petru V. Ilie

Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist, neurologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor once wrote, “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.” He also said, “[A human being] does not simply exist but always decides what [their] existence will be, what [they] will become the next moment. By the same token, every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.” Though life is much more complex than a simple quote can capture, I believe that Frankl was on to something. The world is not as it ought to be, and for many of us life may feel laced with suffering; sometimes because of external forces, and sometimes because of our own past choices that we wish we could take back. But there is something that nobody can take away from us, not oppressors, and not even ourselves: the freedom and responsibility to choose how we face the present moment, whether it's wonderful or dreadful. That choice is what shapes our reality. Each new moment is a fresh start. The past is gone, and the future is not here yet. This means that it’s never too late to take a small step toward becoming who you want to be right now. And if you faltered, don't worry because the moment of faltering is already in the past and you have a new choice with this new present moment. Fresh start again. And again.