Time slips by. Next Monday, May 23, I'll be another year older. Well, I like to think that literally I'll be only another day older, but there will definitely be a new number to add to my age. Strange, because inside I'm sure I'm sixteen. A wiser sixteen, with more patience and hopefully more common sense. I'm not as apt to lose my temper or cry at the slightest thing; in other words, I've learned not to sweat the small stuff.
What if I could live life all over again? I would be more adventurous, less shy (although I recently heard shy people are hard-wired for that trait). I'd make more savvy investments--the future comes faster than I ever thought. I'd learn to be more independent, I'd analyze situations more thoughtfully. I wouldn't worry; I'd realize worrying doesn't solve problems, just keeps you up at night.
Or maybe I wouldn't change at all. There's an old play called Dear Brutus in which a group of people are each given another chance at life, an opportunity to change the "if only's," to be better people, more insightful, luckier at love and career. What happens? Each makes the same mistakes the second time around. The title of the play comes from a quote in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves than we are underlings."
Could I change the qualities I don't like in myself? Would I? No one gets that second chance.
What would you do differently if you had a chance to do it all over again?
4 comments:
I'm glad to know and appreciate your dear self.
I wish you lived closely in Ct.
Love
Cousin gene
Thelma, what a thought provoking post! I loved reading your thoughts on what you would do differently! I believe I would stress less over the little things, spend more time enjoying life and less time organizing and cleaning, worry less about the future and concentrate on living in the here and the now, and have more soulful conversations with my parents and less trivial chats. What I wouldn't change is the laughter, the sense of humor that allows me to get through most days. That I would keep!
I think everyone goes through those notions as they approach another year older. However, I can safely say I wouldn't change a thing about myself and nor should you. Your life now has made you who you are, and what's the point in doing it all over again? I suppose aside from laughing more, that is. Happy early Birthday!
Ava
What a wonderful blogsite. Thank you for stopping by mine. I like your thoughts, well put. I would have gotten my doctorate and taught college level my whole life. But maybe I would not have met my husband, had 5 children, raised 3, have 8 grandchildren who each have a special place in my life, and been me. Maybe I don't necessarily like being me all the time but I do believe you must be 'careful what you wish.' We have lots in common, although I think I'm older and likely past groups in transition, however since my husband and I are still growing older together, maybe I'm just not in transition. I don't have the same needs. I was married in Houston and Camus is the writer that most impresses me.
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