As humans, we like to ponder things from time to time. One of the questions that I hear from many people my age and older is, “Would you go back and do something different if you had the chance to?” And while it can sound like an interesting proposition, most of the time, we don’t think about the ramifications of making a change in our past.
The more I thought about this question, the more absurd it became to me. It is like asking if there was something in my past that was so awful that I am willing to give up everything and everyone else in my life to go back and remove that one bad experience, person or event. To oversimplify it, each person’s journey is like a pile of string that is randomly dropped on the table. If you move one tiny piece of the string, you are really altering the entire string. It is all connected, much like all of the moments of your life are all connected. Even the smallest of changes could eliminate all of the meaningful lessons that you have learned, all of the relationships that you have had in your life and all of your experiences. Or maybe not, but are you willing to risk who you are today to try to be someone better tomorrow?
Rather than dwelling on your past and the possibility to change some random thing, focus your energy on the result that tempted you. It is completely within your power to be a better person tomorrow than you are today. And you have absolutely nothing to risk. It might mean investing a little bit of time or even some money, but only if you choose to. Something as simple as deciding to greet five strangers with a smile and a kind word at some point in your day will certainly help you to see yourself as a better person tomorrow. Or you might know of someone who is struggling and could use some help. Investing your time to help someone else is certainly going to make you a richer person tomorrow.
You might also look in the mirror tonight and discover that you are the person who most needs some help. You might not like the person looking back at you. But all you need to do is make the decision to work on who you are and how you can grow as a person. Taking that first step is always the most difficult, but once you do, you know that you are headed in the right direction.
So rather than pondering a what if question, decide to really make a difference in yourself and in the world by choosing to become the new and improved you.
Excellent thoughts, and so very true. Sometimes the worst thing that happens to us eventually changes us so drastically for the good that to eliminate it from our history would be nothing short of disaster. Things that have happened to me that at the time seemed it was the end of the world almost, or at least the end of part of my world, have proven to be some of the best things to have happened to me. It’s like Joseph said to his brothers: You (the enemy) meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.
Your post reminds me of the movie “What If”. Have you ever seen it?
Thank you Diane! I have not seen it but now it is on my to do list!
Our past holds the blueprints of all our trials and failures. Our past also stores valuable lessons that can help to keep us alive in the future, but it only will help those who have learned from their trials and failures. No matter how bad or awful our past is or were, if we don’t learn anything from our experiences, we will keeping repeating our mistakes. Use the lessons of the past to create a brighter and better future.