Have you ever asked yourself, "What if?" This question seems to haunt the minds of many, inspires movies and television shows alike and has been the topic of countless time travel-style books. I foolishly believed this was strictly a fun, fictional mind game until the subject began coming up more and more.
The more I mention it, the more people are talking about their regrets and how they would have done many things differently given the opportunity. It never ceases to surprise me. It is not that they are unhappy but they are not people I would have imagined would want their lives to have taken a different path either.
For the first time in my life I began to feel naïve. Was I so simple that I had no regrets? The entire world seems full of them yet I do not have a single one. That is not to say I have not made countless mistakes in my life but do I have any desire to change those mistakes? Not in the least! Every stupid decision I've ever made and every error in judgment has made me the woman I am today. I have no regrets.
Do not be fooled... I had a horrible childhood, a miserable young adulthood and adulthood has not been a walk in the park either! I would hate to think anyone unfamiliar with my work who is reading this might think I am one of those #blessed people who wakes up on clouds and slides down a rainbow every morning to ride her magic pony through a sea of marshmallows. No, I had a real life filled with disappointment and pain at times but those experiences made me strong and capable and I would not trade them for anything. Maybe I simply don't know any better and can't really imagine a happier, better way of doing things but, for whatever reason, I would not do it any differently and, for that, I am very grateful.
I am not trying to change anyone's mind about how they see the world but I hope the next time someone asks you, "If you could do it all over again, would you?" you will think long and hard about the answer. If the answer is still yes, it is never too late. You only get one life... live it with no regrets.