The decisions we make on a daily basis directly influence who we become. We may think (myself included) that one grand decision will automatically transform us into our ideal selves, but this is far from the case. It is true that the grand decision may inform our later decisions, but those later decisions, which are impossible to count, must be made in congruence with the grand decision. I am made aware of this every time I watch the first Back to the Future.
George McFly does not suddenly become a man of action after knocking Biff out, he is only exposed to what he is capable of. Because shortly thereafter, a slimy guy at the dance cuts in on George and Lorraine, and George is left without his density (Lorraine). George’s automatic response is not to take action – as he had with Biff – but to revert to his natural apathetic tendencies. Only after George takes a moment to assess the situation as something he can do something about does he take charge. It is then that George pushes the slimeball away and takes Lorraine back for their first kiss, keeping Marty from disappearing and allowing him to close out the dance with Johnny B. Goode. Years later, we find that George has made himself into a confident and successful man, a direct result of the events that transpired at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance.
This example, obviously, is of Hollywood’s imagination, but it does ring true. And there are plenty of similar real life examples as well. A boy stands up to a bully and is never picked on again because he don’t back down to no one. A girl gets her first A on a Math test and goes on to create a sustainable human living system on Mars. We’ve all seen them before. But we also, time and again, see the opposite.
New Year’s Resolutions are a great example. How many gym memberships, health food plans, and ambitious goals are set on January 1st only to be squandered before February? The initial decision is indeed bold, but that January 1st mentality must remain throughout the year so that more decisions can be made in the same vein. Because even with the doorway to pro-activity open, it is very easy to choose the door beside it that leads to a couch and potato chips.
What can even be more detrimental, is when someone has once lived in accordance with what were smart decisions, but have since let go of the lifestyle, yet they speak about their past accomplishments as if they still existed. For lack of a better example, the former high school stud. The guy who got the winning touchdown, hit the winning shot, or made some other triumphant feat. The reason they were able to accomplish the feat in the first place is because they trained extensively and always made decisions that fell in line with what they wanted. But once high school ended, they coasted off of their glory days, seeing no need to act as they once did. To draw a parallel, what if George hadn’t pushed the slimeball out of the way, and instead used his freedom from Lorraine to tell the fellas about how he knocked out Biff? There would be no part 2 or 3 (for better or worse), and the dance attendees wouldn’t be privy to a sneak peak of heavy metal. This mentality is even worse than the failed resolution makers, for at least those with goals are still reaching for something, and perhaps they will eventually achieve them. But to not set any goals at all, the result is often obesity and an early, miserable grave. Or perhaps an alcoholic wife and some low achieving children, a la George’s original life.
So what reveals itself, as I contemplate this point further, is that in order to make good decisions, one must have a reason to make good decisions. In this life, our default is often choosing what is most comfortable, and even though this may render short-term happiness, it often results in long-term calls for desperation. George knew Lorraine was his destiny, and he acted accordingly. So us resolution makers must continue to set goals for ourselves, grand goals that others may think are outrageous. But what is even more important is to realize that in order to move towards that goal, we must constantly make decisions that are in accordance with who and what we want to be. One decision at a time.
scott ironmonger 