Would a Time Machine Really Be That Helpful?

I've recently experienced the "run into the ex-boyfriend" encounter; it was at a bar in my neighborhood. Those situations are pretty few and far between in my life, but this guy was one of the good ones. For the longest time, I carried the "What if" feeling about him: what if things had been different? What if I'd fought a little bit harder? What if things had worked out the way we'd initially planned?

As soon as I caught myself opening up that can of worms, I immediately shut it down. You see, we tend to fantasize about situations we didn't get to experience (or at least about the ones that didn't go the way we wanted them to) as if there were something we could have done to change their outcome, how our lives would automatically have turned out so much better. We end up forgetting the reasons why things didn't work out in the first place, literally choose to focus only on the good parts, and a lot of times even embellish them, turning what really happened into some fairy tale style occasion. 

Don't get me wrong, there's absolutely no shame in a little day dreaming or trips down memory lane, especially if those memories really were good ones. But that has to stop the moment we start to question the paths we took and the results of the decisions we made. Truth is we all make our decisions based on what we know at the time, and how we feel. Therefore, there's no point in dwelling in the "had I knowns" or in the "what ifs", simply because we can't change the past. And even if it were possible to go back in time, that would only take us back to what we know and felt when we made those decisions, so pretty much all of our choices would be the exact same. Interesting, don't you all think?

So, if a time machine won't help, then perhaps we should all start looking more within when we're faced with decisions. How we felt about things in the past is no indicator of how we'll feel in the future, and trying to predict how things will turn out is an even greater setup for disappointment. Just think of how many times you didn't wear something you really wanted to because you were afraid of what others would think, and ended up frustrated with the outfit you ended up picking instead. It's happened to me, and I've learned that how I feel is the most important thing to consider when making my decisions. 


Let's all vow to look within ourselves the next time we are faced with a tough (or any) decision. There's no better source of knowledge or courage, and it's also the best guarantee we won't have any regrets. And that goes for everything: from "should I move across the country?" to "do I look good in this swimsuit?" Haha, yes! I had to throw that in there! You all know what I'm about!

I know you all will rise to the occasion the next time you need to make a decision. And it will feel great!! 

Happy Halloween to you all!! Remember to wear whatever costume you feel like, and have all the fun there is to be had. See you all next week!!