Letters to Myself: Bonus Entry
Prompt: If I Could Travel in Time, I’d Choose Now
A reflection on time, responsibility, and choosing presence over escape during moments of collective unrest.
I believe I’ve written on this prompt before. What compels me to return to it now is the weight of the present moment.
We are living through difficult, defining times - globally, nationally, and here at home in Minnesota. And I want to say this clearly: being a Minnesotan has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. This place has taught me humility, resilience, and the importance of community. No matter our backgrounds or beliefs, there is a deep instinct here to look out for one another.
That matters now more than ever.
While this prompt asks about traveling through time, part of me wrestles with the idea of escape. Of wishful thinking. Of leaving the present behind. Of course, there is a part of me that longs to sit with Marcus Aurelius, to learn directly from him, to speak with Epictetus, to understand how they endured civil unrest, uncertainty, and fear in their own eras. Their writings remind us that turmoil is not new. History has always been shaped in moments like this.
And yet, that realization brings me back here.
Because being alive now is not a burden. It is a responsibility.
To be present in a time when your voice matters. When you are allowed to speak, to care, to show up, this is one of the greatest gifts we can be given. That doesn’t mean injustice isn’t real. It is. And it lives closer to home than many of us would like to admit.
To anyone reading this from outside Minnesota: please know there are good people here. Deeply diverse people. People with layered histories, cultures, and perspectives. People who do not deserve fear as a daily companion. The exhaustion is real. The uncertainty is real. But so is the resolve.
As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, the obstacle is the way.
This moment is not something to run from, it is something to meet with courage. To carry light into dark places. To stand up for those who feel small or unseen. To do what Ryan Holiday urges: the right thing, right now.
That is what I see happening here. Neighbors standing with neighbors. Communities choosing compassion over apathy. Proof that connection is still the most powerful force we have.
Isolation will not save us. Fear will not protect us. History shows that people survive, and even shape the future, by standing together. By insisting that no child or adult should live in fear. By welcoming disagreement without abandoning dignity. By remembering our shared humanity.
This is only one moment in time. There will be others. But if this moment can wake us up, if it can remind us that justice, safety, and kindness are not abstract ideals but daily practices - then it matters.
So if I could travel in time, the truth is this:
I would choose now.
This is the era that needs us. These are the stories we are meant to tell. These are the injustices we are called to confront. Care, compassion, and solidarity will always outlast hatred.
Please stay safe. Reach out if you need help. You are not alone.
Together, we are strong. Our hearts are connected.
Sympatheia — we belong to one another.
With love,
KG
This post is part of my "Letters to Myself" series — a weekly free-write blog where I explore personal growth, curiosity, and healing through simple prompts. Sometimes reflective, sometimes fun, but always real. Thank you for being here.
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Photo by Kyle Gare
