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

  • With utmost effort

    With utmost effort

    Faya admired the Espers who gave their all when a new challenge stood before them. She respected the most those who used their utmost effort, even if the outcome wasn’t as good as expected, or even ended in complete failure. “As long as you did everything you could, there will be no reason to regret.”…

    Read more

  • A simple meal

    A simple meal

    Though Esperia was now living in peace, many wars had been fought, and the last one, the Chaos War, finally led the Espers to realize that the StarDust, shared by every Esper, was the key to developing a society in harmony. Health was understood to be an essential pillar of that harmony, and Kenko, the…

    Read more

  • Simple clothes and food

    Simple clothes and food

    Eklea liked to hold on to this simple question. “In the end, what truly defines who you are?” It took time to reflect on such a question, and she knew that most Espers didn’t naturally ask themselves anything like this. When you become too attached to the possessions you own, they begin to define you.…

    Read more

  • Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness

    Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness

    Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. Human emotions may be what truly define us as “unique” among other living species. We find joy in the little pleasures life brings to us: the warmth of the sun rising in the morning, a cool breeze in summer, the beautiful colors of autumn leaves. Anger, sometimes, arises when we…

    Read more

  • Of Adaptation of the Wise

    Of Adaptation of the Wise

    Among all, Vati was recognized as a true representation of Wisdom. But she liked to say that it was never a natural gift; it was nurtured with dedication and time. When asked how to persevere in becoming wiser, she would answer like this: “To keep an open mind and adapt to as many situations as…

    Read more

  • Pros and Cons

    Pros and Cons

    The Seven Shapes reflected on what balance was truly about. “This isn’t about stillness,” said Vati, who liked the image of a wave to represent balance. Atma, the Shape of Balance, gently nodded in agreement. In some cultures, this idea was shown as light opposing darkness; in others, as the Yin and the Yang. It…

    Read more

  • Early game or End game

    Early game or End game

    Shala, the Shape of Time, often discussed this topic with the other Shapes. Just like us humans, the Espers had a finite life. So how to spend their time until the end was a question that sparked many debates in Esperia. Some believed that since they had only a few years to live, living life…

    Read more

  • We are in the same boat

    We are in the same boat

    Is this reality truly understood? When we look at how the governments of the richest countries behave, it doesn’t seem so. A consensus on climate change should be obvious. “Because others don’t act, why should we? We’ll just lose the economic war.” Well, since we — unfortunately? — share the same boat, and it’s the…

    Read more