Where Would You Be If Your Path Was Different?

I am captivated by people who love who they are and content with where they are in life. You may hear them state that they wouldn’t change a thing because then they wouldn’t be where they are now. Although I know I wouldn’t be where I am now without the experiences in my life, I often think about where I could be if I could redo many moments throughout my life. Looking back, what if I handled those 6th-grade mean girls in a more confident way, focused more in High School and got better grades, participated more in leadership clubs, actively volunteered, knew in college what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, etc. If I could go back and make these changes, would I be in a different position today? Would I be a better, more stronger person?

We’ve all learned about people coming from nothing and accomplishing extraordinary things.  They had to fight through many conflicts and the odds were stacked up against them.  You have to wonder, if they were dealt a different hand, would those same people still have the same results or did their circumstances make them tough.  I made some pretty lame decisions early on in my life.  I cringe when I think back.

I grew up in a volatile environment.  I was raised by a single mom who was just 18 years old when she had me.  At the very least, you can say we raised each other.  I often think of where I could be now if I came from a more stable environment.  I consider myself a very strong and confident person but if I was granted more stability and focus when I was younger, would my path have taken me in a completely different direction?  It’s hard to say!   Also, if I didn’t experience the wrath of the mean girls in 6th grade, I wouldn’t have been able to coach my own daughter through a similar situation she experienced in the same grade.

I believe many people get wrapped up in, “What could have been.”  I have to be honest, I often think to myself if I was given the same opportunity as my daughters, I could accomplish unthinkable things.  Instead, it’s important that I focus on the here and now and be determined to improve my life and touch the people around me.  Discipline is key!  You have to stay focused and when you hit that bump in the road, dust yourself off and keep going.  Forgive yourself – we are not perfect.  We can’t change the past put we can learn from it and grow.  What the past can tell us is what we don’t want in the future.