If I Could Start My Life Over

I’m a generally content, carefree person – day in and day out – with very few regrets. But if I was given a chance to go back to the beginning and start all over again, there are some changes I’d make. After all, hindsight is 20/20, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have done a few things a little differently. Just a little.


If I Could Start My Life Over, I would...

...go much further in my education.

I took a lot of shortcuts when I was young; eager to get my education over and done with. Now I wish I’d spent more time in school and pursued a higher education. Yes, I know it’s never too late, and that I could return to the classroom. But I’m not really in the mood for that type of commitment, and I’m not sure I have the patience to deal with it. It’ll just have to wait until my next lifetime.


...marry the right person from the start.

The first time I headed down the aisle, I was going to meet the wrong person. Thankfully, I got a second chance and hooked up with the perfect man. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been a ‘runaway bride’ the first time around. Definitely.


...travel a little more before the kids arrive.

It’s a lot tougher to travel as a family than it is to travel alone or as a couple. And although I did manage to squeeze in a couple of cool destinations before I became a mom, I would have taken a few more trips (if finances allowed) before the pitter-patter of little feet took over my life.


...have more kids.

Large families appeal to me, and I always dreamed of having one of my own – three, four or five kids. Of course, I would have had to marry the right person from the start, which didn’t happen. This is another thing I will make sure to get right in my next lifetime. Fool me once...


...learn to play an instrument.

It’s definitely never too late to learn an instrument, but I do wish I’d started this in my younger years. Guitar and keyboard both appeal to me. I’m working on (or trying to work on) this.

...sign up for more activities.

I declined participating in certain activities when I was young because hanging out with friends was more appealing. For example, I tried out for the basketball team in high school, and much to my surprise, made it. Then I turned it down because none of my friends were going to be there. The coach tried to talk me into joining the team but I declined. I wouldn’t do this again if I could start all over.


...spend more time with my parents.

We get caught up in our busy lives and often lose track of time, which goes by much too quickly. And with each passing year, as we get older, our parents get older. Before you know it, they’re gone. Forever. If I could turn back the clock, I would have called more often, visited more often...especially my father. Who is gone. Forever. My mother is still alive, so I’m doing better by her.


...nip my childhood shyness in the bud.

I was painfully shy as a child, which robbed me of many opportunities. If I knew then what I know now, I would nip this in the bud and be rid of it for good.


...do more voluntary work.

I’ve done some voluntary work in my life, but far from the amount I’ve wanted to. And I really enjoy it; it gives me a sense of satisfaction, makes me feel like I’m contributing something to this world. I’ve slacked off on this over the years, mostly from lack of effort, but I’m working on getting more involved. We’ll see how it goes.


...learn my father’s skills.

My father was a jack of all trades, and I could have been one as well if I’d spent more time hanging around him while he worked on his handyman projects. This was a missed opportunity. Live and learn.


As you can see, there aren’t that many things I would change. I suppose I could come up with a few more if I really sit down and think about it. But life has been pretty good to me, so I’d rather focus on the here and now than linger in the past.

How about you? What would you do differently if you could go back in time?