Notes #26 - Stop and Smell the Future

naquoya (67)in #writing • 7 years ago

Typewriter

Notes From an Amateur Writer #26
STOP AND SMELL THE FUTURE

This Blog series is an exercise in creative writing. Sometimes expressed in short story forms, sometimes as a journal, or just my thoughts written down. This is my attempt to help coalesce my writing ideas and knowledge into usable form. It is a nursery of sorts for the stories that are on their way, or yet to be written.

The Future Has Already Started

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in the future. Then I remember that I hold Bitcoin, and I post on Steemit, and communicate with friends on the other side of the world in real time through video and voice software. I hold a couple of hundred books on a device slightly smaller than an actual real book. I couldn't do any of those things several years back.

I think the future has already started. Perhaps some people may have missed it's beggining. I know I almost did. I thought it was just another day. Turns out it was the future.

"I wasn't expecting you until later," I told the future. It was at my door, knocking.

"No time to waste," it said. But then there's never any time to waste. The past used to tell me that. And look what happened to it. Come to think of it, what did happen to it? I haven't seen the past in some time now.

"The past is gone," the future told me. "He never hangs around. He prefers to creep into your dreams when you're not looking and plant the seeds of half forgotten nightmares. He can be cruel like that. Makes you feel like you're losing your mind. Not me though. You stick with me, you'll see, good things will come."

"Like flying cars?" I asked the future.

"If that's you're thing, sure."

"I like the 3D printing thing. That's pretty neat," I told him.

"Yeh, it's a personal favourite of mine."

"Tell me, when is reality television going away?"

"You don't like it?" the future asked me.

"No, it's awful." I didn't tell him I don't watch TV at all. Too many fake people. I don't like fake people. And these days everybody wants to be a star. For doing what? Being a complete twat? Why didn't the past take that nonsense with him.

"I'm not much of a fan either, I have to admit."

I don't always have conversations with the elements of time, but when I do they usually go something like that. Just shooting the breeze really. It's what writers do. It's our version of time travel. There's no real maths involved. No major feats of engineering. Just a creative exploration of what's going on behind the curtain. Some people call that 'making shit up', but it's more akin to artistic licence.

The future is all around us. It creeps in slowly. We just don't see it. It's like the drip-drip of a broken tap. Eventually the sink fills and overflows. I think it's the same with the future. Little things change, then more little things. And perhaps we're so focused on our own little lives that we fail to look up, to notice. Then one day it hits us, we're standing smack bang in the middle of the future. We're breathing it. And in the case of Bitcoin, and the altcoins in general, we're spending it. It's here. Did you notice?

All images used with permission, and sourced from Unsplash.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it then please like, comment, and follow

@naquoya

Short Fiction:

Bang Bang You're Dead
I Have No Name and I Must Scream
The Last Book Store
The Judge
The Man In The Mirror
The End of the World [Part 1] [Part 2]
The Locked Room
The Gods of Love and War [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

Notes From an Amateur Writer blog series:

#story #life #blog #teamaustralia

7 years ago in #writing by naquoya (67)

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ezzy (77) 7 years ago

Where did you come up with such an original and inventive piece? Man, I love it! And it's so relatable too. What was consider crazy speak not too long ago (only ten years ago, Bitcoin would sound like voodoo magic) is now fast becoming accepted fact. And you wove that premise into your story with ease.

Very impressive. Really showcases your creative talents. :)

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naquoya (67) 7 years ago

Thanks man, that's very kind of you to say that. It was just a small piece exploring time and the future. A fun little piece. And yes things have changed so much so quickly. Lets see where this all goes.

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minnowsupport (70) 7 years ago

Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by naquoya from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, and someguy123. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows and creating a social network. Please find us in the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.

If you like what we're doing please upvote this comment so we can continue to build the community account that's supporting all members.

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jedau (67) 7 years ago

Oh mate, I forgot to bring popcorn! I could go all day just watching you have a conversation with the elements of time. Maybe chime in from time to time. That's the magic that creative thinking provides--that exploration to the unknown without having to think of the intricacies involved. Suspension of disbelief is reserved for a rare breed, and for those who think that anything is possible, the potential is near limitless.

As I mentioned before, I don't want to rank the Notes, since they're like snowflakes--every Note is special in their own way--but this definitely sits among the top. Masterful work, brother! :D

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naquoya (67) 7 years ago

So glad you enjoyed it. I actually wrote this piece two days ago, before I had yesterdays 'little turn' or black day. Which evolved into yesterdays post. Now I look at it, and to me it reads as Life encouraging me to keep looking to the future, keep moving forward. It was like the antidote to what happened yesterday was given to me in advance. And it works to help me feel balanced - the creativity expressed, as you mention. The conversations with the elements of time. The jovial aspect to it. I work best when I am curious and inquisitive, without being overly serious about things. Despite how serious life can get at times.

I enjoyed writing this one. It's a shorter piece to normal, but I think that was all that needed to be said.

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jedau (67) 7 years ago

Oh yeah, I'm no stranger to publishing out of sequence as well. It's nice when it works out well in the end. Sometimes it just can't be avoided.

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sarahewaring (67) 7 years ago

I love this.....Great writing!

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naquoya (67) 7 years ago

Thank you so much, very happy to hear that :)

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beginningtoend (69) 7 years ago

I like that you have personified the future, givin it a voice.

Back in the 1980s when I was teaching school my principal asked if I wanted a computer, I said no I didn't see any purpose for it in teaching art. Boy was I wrong, fortunately he gave me one anyway.

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naquoya (67) 7 years ago

I remember using the very early Apples when in High School. We learned very little on them, they seemed more like toys. Within a couple of years my younger sister's schools had computers for all pupils. It changed overnight. It wasn't until I first used the Internet in 1995 that I took computers seriously.

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