Looking over life –
What would I do different?
Happy where I am
Good afternoon it’s a cold, gloomy day here and I’m snuggled, warm in bed, drinking hot tea, reading a good book, and occasionally watching the rain outside my window. The Christmas decorations have been taken down and yesterday Shawn and Gretchen went out to the Flagg gem and mineral show. Gretchen showed me the pieces she procured for herself and Robin (as he wasn’t able to attend this year’s show) and I remarked how her free stone looked like ABC. I think she begrudgingly agreed because her offense seemed mocked, but Shawn was confused so I explained, already been chewed.
Onto todays #bloganuary prompt – What would you do different? Absolutely nothing. I’m not saying I’ve never contemplated what-ifs; I’m sure everyone has. I really enjoyed reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, because he explored the roads not taken quite effectively, and his protagonist realized she would be a totally different person if she had taken different turns in her life. This year marks 25 years since Shawn and I moved to the warm desert of Phoenix, AZ. The desert may not always be warm and sunny, but leaving the snow and cold of Buffalo is still a road I would happily embark on.
Another thing that has taken my lifetime to appreciate is my disability. Though since it is a birth defect, I don’t see it as something I could do differently as it’s been a part of me since birth; realizing the part cerebral palsy has had in shaping who I am and growing to be happy with that person took time. Especially growing up and feeling apart from people seen as “normal”. Well normal isn’t everything it’s advertised to be. And without my disability, I wouldn’t be the same person I am and today I kindda like who she is.
initial V scar
between thumb and forefinger
uplifts my mettle
The take away in all this I want my readers to see is: Yes, you can contemplate what-ifs and what would I do differently? But I hope you see you are enough and you are amazing just as you are and if you feel something is lacking, make a change and move forward. Dwelling on mistakes and constantly thinking how you should have done something different cannot change it. Given enough time you may come to realize if you could have gone down a different road, it would’ve changed who you are. I hope if you feel there are mistakes in your past, you take the time to learn from them and use them to make you a stronger person.