home

back

www. .com

The Future

When thinking about the future, some of us think about our lives, the lives of others; the life of our planet, our death, our future

endeavors and some of us try not to think too far ahead. It is said that the future does not exist, only the present exists, the past

being a memory of the present and the future being the present before it happens. Whatever way you think about it, the future can be

a complex maybe. When I think of the future, I think of mistakes I don't want to make, of regrets I don't want to have - a mix of

the positive and the negative, a weariness of what is around the corner. Of course the 'not knowing' is fascinating. It is something

which drives me forward. The notion that it could all end tomorrow provides enough encouragement for me to live for the moment,

to live each day as if it's my last and to seize it with both hands.

Having said this we all seem to plan for our future, whether it is short term or long term. We educate ourselves to have a better future,

we earn money to better our lives; we look for love and dream of stability, of success, of wisdom, of fun and adventure.

We recycle our waste, hoping to save the planet and reduce our carbon footprint so that our children will have a better future.

We read horoscopes and go to fortune tellers to predict our future, seeing if we will meet the right partner, make money

and have good health. 

Personally, I believe each decision I make decides what comes or does not come next. It is a belief that I have control over my

own fate, my own destiny. Some would think different, that our future has already been planned, that our lives are in the hands of

higher powers. However, I firmly believe that my future is up to me, what I make of it. When I make or don't make a decision,

this decision or non decision determines my path or direction in life, until my next decision. Therefore, it is my belief that

each decision in the present builds up the future and that the future is a continuous present. Of course, this is just me, you guys

can tell me about your future tomorrow.^^

Phrases/Vocabulary

Please put the phrases/vocabulary below under the correct future heading.

Questions

Future

Answers to Phrases/Vocabulary above:

PEDAGOGIC NOTE:  Regional differences do occur and you may not therefore agree with every category.

Possible:  prospective, at sometime in the future

Probable:  expected, eventually, likely, possibly in the near future, threatening, in the course of time, an indication of the shape of things to come

Definite: approaching, in future,  in the near future, imminent, inevitable, from now on, hereafter, impending, unfolding, in hand