I believe this is a very powerful revelation that very few of us take the time to full appreciate. Some of us may realize it at one time or another when looking at mistakes of others either when it is made known publicly or in private. Young people especially should make full use of this opportunity to 'glimpse into the future' through the actions of their seniors or adults to improve their chances of having a better future.
For example, if you see a beggar by the roadside, you can either give him a few coins to stop him from disturbing you, or you can stop and reflect on how that man got to where he is in the present moment and if you could become like him through the various choices you make every single day. Likewise, if you look at a wealthy businessman, you can ask yourself if you are able to become like him given the choices you make on a daily basis.
We can mirror ourselves in the people that we interact with or see everyday. The choices they make had brought them to where they are in the present. Lucky for us (many of us still have time as long as we are not lying stiff in a wooden box), we are able to make different choices to not go down the road of someone who had a tragic end. On the other hand, if we are making tragic choices today, maybe it's time to make better ones to become like someone who is having a good time enjoying the good life.
I guess the keyword I am trying to emphasize here is, we become the choices we make at every juncture of our lives. Sometimes it involves small decisions, and sometimes it involves big decisions. Using other people as 'benchmarks' helps us to check the choices we have made and allows for correction of course every step of the way.
