The oldest form of writing has been found on the backs of turtle shells. They come from China. No one can really read the markings, but the hypothesis is that the ancient people wrote their incantations on the shells for divining purposes. Since that time, people have been writing their ideas on how to forecast their own paths throughout the written record of humans.
I don't think we have come very far in that regard. We are still tyring very hard to divine our futures. It doesn't really entail appeasing the gods or trying to read the portents of the sky or the hidden meanings of natural calamities anymore. But it does mean that we are curious about what lies ahead of us in life's path. In history, the famous oracles like the one at Delphi and famous priestesses like Cassandra stand out because they succesfully informed people of events in their lives.
No one today believes in incantations, and few seek modern Cassandras or psychics. We're much more content to live our lives in relative comfort from one day to the next. We even have an adage in our language advising us to live "one day at a time." But, end of time theories abound, science fiction movies and stories of major world catastrophes flourish, and scientists try to construct a future factoring in global warming.
Perhaps the secret of living is in finding meaning for our lives. Since we learn about ourselves throughout our lives, we have the opportunity to create and recreate meaningful days, years, decades, and quarter-centuries for ourselves. It's easier said than done, but we do have the ability to surround ourselves with activities and people that help to make us better and our lives meaningful. We just need to follow some good old Roman advice - carpe diem (take advantage of the day at hand). So today, I think I'll position myself around those who help me to be better and around those activities that help to build meaning into my life.
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