Movies can inspire us to change our attitudes or reflect on our lives and choices. Tense or dramatic movies can even move us to tears as we consider how we would handle ourselves in similar situations. But often, stories of real people are even more inspiring. I know a true story of a woman who, despite her circumstances, applied two principles that we do not see many women follow today.

Charles Dickens (1812–1870), the popular, prolific author of Britain’s Victorian Age, penned a poignant introduction to his famous novel A Tale of Two Cities, published in 1859. Now that was a long time ago, yet his description of that time certainly fits this modern age. He wrote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

How can you know the future, particularly your own personal future? Will you find your fortune? Can you look into the future and find out? Is your future already determined?

Many people resort to astrology to try to find out whether the stars, planets, and moon are aligned to bring fortune in their future, whether this or that decision will bring success, or whether they will meet Mister or Miss “Right.”

The Declaration of Independence, written in Philadelphia in 1776 after months of debate and negotiation, contains a beautiful statement of principle. It was “heard around the world” and it continues to resonate with people today. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is an uplifting concept—recognizing, of course, shared equality in the eyes of the law and before our Creator.

My family just moved into a new house. It has been an exciting and hectic few weeks. You probably know the feeling. The excitement of a new home and a new neighborhood was dampened, however, when we found out that there were ghosts—more than one actually, along with a resident witch, and even a werewolf. All joking aside, of course, there aren’t any real ghosts or monsters, but you’ve probably guessed it by now—Halloween decorations.