Once in a Lifetime

What image comes to mind when you think of the expression “once in a lifetime”?

A beautiful encounter, a new beginning, perhaps an unexpected event.

On Esperia, the notion of time was not so different from that on Earth.

But the presence of Shala, the Shape of Time, had gradually changed the Espers’ approach to time.

Despite the use of magic, it was still not possible to go back in time, and as such, each event in a life is something unique and irreplaceable.

Of course, some actions can be repeated more easily than others, but at the same time, other things will have changed, such as our state of mind, that of others, the climate… Small details that may seem insignificant at first, but that shape the environment in which we live.

The Espers thus became more aware that each moment was unique.
And that at every moment, there were countless choices.

The Espers were proud of what they called their “free will”: this ability that allows them to make choices, decided and intended.

But the discovery of the StarDust had also taught them something important: daily habits gradually shape the millions of unconscious choices made each day.

Shala had therefore given them something essential:

Each new moment is a possibility to make a conscious choice. These conscious choices can then help create habits that will establish the new foundations of unconscious choices.

Want to share?


Comments

Leave a Reply


Our latest tales

  • The Shadow of Empathy

    The Shadow of Empathy

    If there is one Shadow that causes a great deal of harm, whether on an individual scale or on a broader scale, it is surely that of Empathy. It often takes control of behavior when emotions speak for themselves: anger, fear, suspicion. It is often said that the beings who can hurt us the most…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Wisdom

    The Shadow of Wisdom

    As for Wisdom, the Shadow within each of the Espers was no less present. On the contrary, when faced with difficult questions or complex problems, this Shadow would often avoid the real issue and instead answer something simpler, something it was capable of solving without effort. That was why the Espers sometimes behaved in contradictory…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Balance

    The Shadow of Balance

    In a world of choices that seemed almost infinite, where overconsumption had been made possible by the abundance resulting from the use of magic, the Espers were overwhelmed by sensory stimuli and bombarded with information. It was difficult, then, for the Shadow present within each Esper to make the choices that would promote the balance…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Time

    The Shadow of Time

    The Shadow that resides within each Esper has the unfortunate tendency to prioritize short-term benefits for its host. When an Esper reacts unconsciously, their Shadow takes over and acts in their place. Instead of thinking about the long term, which is difficult and requires time, effort, and concentration, their Shadow prefers the lure of an…

    Read more

  • Shadow and Light

    Shadow and Light

    “Without light, no shadow can appear; there is only darkness.” Cha Cha, our platypus friend, had attended a public event where silence was expected. Yet among the audience, two spectators paid little attention to this rule and kept talking, disturbing the people around them. This experience led him to reflect on the Shadow that belongs…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Willpower

    The Shadow of Willpower

    Let us continue our little journey exploring the Shadow that slumbers within every Esper and reveals itself unconsciously. Today, let us take a closer look at the Shadow of Willpower. Yesterday, Kenko, the Shape of Health, explained how our Shadow sometimes acts against our long-term well-being. When it comes to responsibility and willpower, the Shadow…

    Read more

  • The Shadow of Health

    The Shadow of Health

    The Espers were now learning to perceive their Shadow by developing their StarDust. Thanks to the efforts of the Seven Shapes and their writings, which took the form of One Daily Tale, their civilization now embraced, among its founding values, the daily balance of the five elements, allowing their StarDust to flourish. For the element…

    Read more

  • Perceiving One’s Shadow

    Perceiving One’s Shadow

    The discovery of the StarDust had revealed the existence of a Shadow within every Esper. Long ago, some philosophers already spoke of the importance of knowing oneself, and Eklea, the Shape of Awareness, believed that what they were truly referring to was this Shadow. “This Shadow is a part of us. It is neither good…

    Read more