Ah, Star Trek… You have given us SO much! Some of you are probably snickering at that comment at the moment but the reality is that no one could have predicted that a small, low-budget show that ran for only three seasons would prompt movies, follow-up series, prequel series and a host of other media releases, but here we are! In fact, there are a number of interesting articles out there that you can Google, about how many of the concepts and inventions depicted in Star Trek: The Next Generation have now come into being; many of which were likely inspired by the show. Modern day smart tablets come to mind as one of the most prominent examples. But the title to today’s post is rather niche within Star Trek and may not be known except to some of the more hardcore Trekkies. The concept will be somewhat diminished by the fact that I have to explain it first but it’s most important that everyone have a clear underfunding of what the title means, in order for the post as a whole to make sense. I’m probably muddying the waters here, so why don’t we just get right into it…
“Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations,” or “IDIC,” is a concept rooted in Vulcan philosophy within the Star Trek universe. I first heard of it through a Star Trek novel that was written by none other than Mr. William Shatner, whom most people recognize as Captain James T. Kirk. Some of those novels were direct follow-ups to the movie Star Trek Generations, which ultimately saw to Kirk’s in-universe demise. Without spoiling it for anyone who may wish to read through those novels, he doesn’t stay that way. But this is the first place that I’d seen IDIC referenced. Conceptually, IDIC is the Vulcan belief that everything in life comes from uniting things that are unalike, and that people should embrace these differences while recognizing the similarities within them. It also references the fact that within one’s life, there are infinite choices, which lead us to infinite outcomes. And that latter part is a bit of where I’m going with today’s post.
Over the course of its my life, I’ve lived with the concept that I had a life of no regrets. And this plays into the concept of IDIC a bit. After all, even the poor or bad decisions that led to unfavorable outcomes have brought me to the here and now., and to the person that I am today. And since I have a pretty solid self-image and believe in myself, I would be hard pressed to regret any decision or life’s choice that would have brought me to here. Right? And that’s kind of why I’ve always been of the mindset that I had a life of no regrets. Because regretting something, a lost opportunity, a missed appointment, deciding left instead of right or pursuing an unfavorable romantic partner, won’t make it better. It won’t make the choice or its subsequent consequences go away. So, dwelling on it serves no purpose but to increase the suffering within one’s life. All one can do is move forward, and make choices that will twist one’s path towards the direction one refers. That being said, one also cannot ignore that we most often find our destiny on the road we least thought to walk.
A prominent example of this is my time in law enforcement. I spent my childhood talking about how I would eventually become a police officer. Of course, most little kids will say this at some juncture in their lives. But for me, it never went away. Type-1 Diabetes played an integral role with how many years it took me to finally pick up a badge, but I made it. IN 2021, in the slowly rolling aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided it was time for a change and to move on from policing. There’s a long story behind that decision, which I won’t get into during this post, but it was a painful and difficult decision. Ultimately, I opted to retire and begin a new career in administrative law. Six years later, I’m still here and I’ve met people, learned things and have experienced growth the likes of which I wouldn’t have, if I had stayed in policing. Does it mean that I don’t regret staying with the Force? I’m often wistful and a little sad when I think about those years. Policing was a big part of my life, which may make you ask, “Then why’d you walk away?” Again, the answer to that is too long a story to get into here. Perhaps someday, I will tell that story.
The point is, you never know what choices life will throw at you or what decision you will ultimately make, until it’s right in front of you. While I would really love to say that I made all the right decisions in my life and I wouldn’t do a single thing differently, it doesn’t mean there aren’t other choices I would have enjoyed exploring. But life doesn’t work that way. We can’t look or go back; we can only continue moving forward and try to do the best we can within this life with the time we have. Looking back on the “what ifs” and regretting that you made certain choices and didn’t jump on other opportunities when they were available won’t bring them back. They’ll just make you dwell on a future that, if you believe in multiverse theory, exists somewhere. You’re simply not experiencing it yourself. And there’s no way to fix that. So, it becomes integral to one’s wellbeing that appreciation for the good things in one’s life to be recognized. And to acknowledge that who you are right now is pretty amazing. And it’s those choices, good or bad, that have brought you here. Good for thought… ☯️
