You Can Rebuild

"The world lacks reversibility, just like time… and so do the hearts of people."

Karmatic Cycles* are an infrequent trope of fiction. The definition of such is a pattern by which a series of events are repeated by the same characters. In most cases, a character involved in a cycle isn't aware of the fact. They'll generally believe that life is continuing as normal. An observer might be privy to the truth, but usually only towards the end of the story...or the end of a cycle. There is no limit on the number of cycles that  can be contained within this plot device, nor is there any rule stating that stories must begin during the first and end in the last. The Groundhog Day Loop trope is similar, but there are some key differences that set Karmatic Cycles apart. First, the world that is being repeated is by no means static. Things can change drastically from one version to the next. There will still be an abundance of similarities, but also enough differences to set it apart. These changes are the result of carry-overs: events and choices influenced by Karma.

*Note that this is distinctively different from "Karmic Cycles".

Karma deals heavily with reincarnation and the ways that past lives influence future ones. Karmatic Cycles are similar; characters and events are influenced by their actions in previous cycles. Each successive cycle changes the outcome a bit more, until eventually it 'breaks free' of itself. Ending a Karmatic Cycle is usually done when the Karma of an individual hits a certain limit. At its most extreme, there are examples of characters transcending our understanding of reality and moving beyond a theoretical event horizon. Systems that are broken by Gods tend to be created by them. In other cases, cycles may continue via the push of a button. Simple of complex, the world is rebuilt once again.

Destroying the world is easy. Rebuilding it is much more difficult and time-consuming. There is no perfect 'redo' option in life. Karmatic Cycles are no different: they are not second, third, or fourth chances. Each cycle is a continuation from the last. Connections and bond between people, places, events, or concepts may extend well past a single cycle. Karma isn't free or random: it's something you earn by your actions, and the actions of others. The rewards are yours for the taking if you're willing to accept the consequences. The result of this is that Man's sins cannot be undone by forgetting or running away. Only by forgiving, learning, and moving forward with understanding can an individual break their cycle. You can not redo, but you can rebuild.

I Am (Not) A Special Snowflake

The quickest way to a person's heart is through the feels that we all share. Nah, I'm just messin with ya. It's actually through their chest cavity. Anatomy aside, humans are an interesting bunch because of how similar we are. It's temping to have a delusional, optimistic view of reality that says "Everyone is unique and that's what makes life wonderful". Ultimately we're all as different as we can possible be given our DNA and rather limited experiences. The vast majority of individuals are similar in any number of ways. The means we employ to survive, to carry out our daily responsibilities to society, and the subjects of our attention are so linear and predictable that we have an entire branch of science built around it: psychology. If we were truly as unique as some would lead us to believe, it would be almost impossible to describe the human mind with descriptions that are anything more than vast generalizations.

Behavior might not be magnificently diverse, but I don't mean to label it as limited or lacking. While Psychologists (or very attentive individuals) can often pair behavior and motivation with great accuracy; they aren't mind readers. Nobody is. Sometimes actions and reasons aren't even correlated. Not everyone thinks rationally, and not everyone uses the same system of logic to come to conclusions. These people show their differences in the things they say and do. They separate themselves from the pack by being vocal about their uniqueness. Still...they aren't different enough.

Feels are important. Making connections are important. Realizing that others share your feels can be both a relief and a wake-up call. You'll realize how similar you are, and that you're not alone. You'll realize how generic you are, and that you're not a special snowflake. It's not easy being you, is it? It's not easy being anyone else either. The human experience is one that is surprisingly complex, but not as varied as you might think. We are constrained by the constants of our existence, which is actually much more simple than it sounds. You can't be as different or unique as you want to be, because you're still a human on this planet. There are rules that you have to follow, and despite everything you are not capable of changing those facts. You cannot advance past the boundaries of your biology quite yet.