Only On The Walters Post

These are my own thoughts from what I’ve seen and lived through. I’m sharing them to spark some thinking and honest conversation, not because I have all the answers.

You know, I have been around this world long enough to know that people often get stuck thinking the same way. They wait on the experts to tell them what can be done, or they figure if something has not happened yet, it never will. That has never made much sense to me.

My mind works a bit differently, as I do not live in a world of equations or fancy reports, truth is I live in a world of hands-on thinking, building things, fixing them, working the land, and watching how life fits together. I have always believed that a person should look beyond what others say is possible, and trust their own good sense. That kind of thinking has served me well all my life.

Lately, though, I have been thinking about the idea of finding new Earth-like planets. We already know there are some out there, places where life could take hold, or maybe already has. The closest one we know of is called Proxima Centauri b, about four light-years away. That sounds far, but I believe it is within reach if we start preparing now.

Actually, some folks are already working on ways to get there. They are building what are called light sails, large and thin, that can ride the push of laser light and send a ship across space at great speed. There are also plans for fusion engines that could use the power of the sun itself to propel a ship toward the stars.
Of course there are other pieces that will be needed too. One is building strong protective shields on the front of these ships to handle bits of space dust that could cause real damage at those high speeds. Another is giving the ships a way to steer themselves and stay on course, using smart guidance systems. And… they will need to send information back to us here at home, which can be done through powerful laser signals. All of these parts are already being worked on by good minds today.

I believe we need more than just scientists working on this. The thing is, sometimes, the best ideas come from the mechanic in his shop, the farmer who knows how things fit together, or the woodworker who understands how to make something strong and lasting. People like that are not afraid to try new ideas, or to see beyond old limits. That kind of thinking brought us across oceans, up into the skies, and to the moon. And now I believe it can take us even farther.

Now don’t take me the wrong way, as this is not about giving up on Earth, actually we need to care for this home more than ever. But we also need to be wise enough to look ahead and prepare. If we start now, if we dream and work with purpose, I believe we can build ships that will take us to new worlds.

Yea, I know, I may be an old dreamer, but life has taught me that the future belongs to those who are willing to see it before it arrives. And I plan to keep seeing what might be possible.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive. GW