Quantum Heap
Rediscovering my passion for the series Scott Bakula starred in–one of my favourite shows from back in the day, Quantum Leap. The show’s premise is that physicist Samuel Beckett “leaps” back in time, inhabiting the bodies of different people. He’s trying to change history, to put right what went wrong, and hopefully return home.
What I find most interesting is the idea that there’s a single pivotal moment in each of our lives where we zig when we should have zagged. Does one mistake set the tone for the rest of our lives? And could it affect many more people in a positive or negative way?
Most of the time, the answer has to be a resounding “no.” It’s daily action that counts, not one moment. If you define yourself by a single event, that in itself can be devastating. Sure we don’t always get what we want, but situations can change by choice.
Look at the spouse who claims their partner “ruined” their lives, or the employee who hates their job: Do they spend the rest of their lives in that bad situation? Who put them in that position? Was it just about being short-sighted? If a car hits you and paralyzes you, does that mean your life is over?
Quantum Leap aims to improve the quality of life for people. That’s a different matter– the degree of comfort, success or happiness that we have by averting tragedy. When dealing with the worst circumstances, some people make a conscious choice not to go on. To die a little on the inside with each new day spent unfulfilled and unhappy.
No one is going to leap into our bodies and make us more confident, stronger, smarter, better looking or even more disciplined. However, I really believe that there is an adventure out there to be had if we step beyond our limits.