One year ago today, we were all waiting for, or joking about, the end of the world supposedly predicted by the Mayan calendar. And yet, here we still are. I’m not big on prophecies. It seems that doomsday prophecies come around pretty regularly. Why is the “future” world so often a dystopia? Why do we expect the worst?

It seems to me that prophecies are often “fulfilled” when people twist the interpretation of events to fit a certain prediction. It’s like waiting until something has happened and then calling it “fate” or “destiny.”

Worry and anxiety are negative prophecies. We tell ourselves that bad things could happen in the future, and then we fret about it. We are focusing on the bad things that might happen. If and when our prophecy is fulfilled, we tell ourselves and others, “I knew it!” Well, I have to ask: Who cares if you did? And why didn’t you do something about it?

When we worry about the future, we rob ourselves of the enjoyment of the present. As I was puttering in the kitchen this afternoon, I looked up to see the scene you see in the photo. The color and composition of it pleased me. I let myself enjoy these seasonal items that mark a festive time of year. I enjoyed the scent of the flavored coffee and the bright color of the flower. Then I snapped the photo, grateful that I had taken the time to savor the moment without worrying about the future. I couldn’t have predicted that moment even a few minutes before it happened. I am glad of that. I like the idea of waiting for life to unfold on its own timetable. Yes, I set goals and make plans, but I also stop to smell the roses–or the poinsettias–along the way.