We live in a world where people are expected to be the best at everything and not make any mistakes. We are supposed to know what we want to do with the rest of our lives by the time we graduate high school, even though we weren’t trusted to go to the restroom without asking permission for the last twelve years. We fly down highways at astronomical speeds and have to make split-second decisions every day. In a society like this, it is no surprise that we make mistakes and do things that we think we could have done better if we only had more time, more money, or more energy. We focus on the 'what if’s' and start to regret the decisions we’ve made, when we should be focusing on what actually happened and how to learn from it.
We choose to see the negative side of things when events don’t go the way we had hoped they would, when in reality everything that has happened to us in the past has played a part in creating the people we are today. That boy that didn’t treat you right? He taught you to value yourself through your own eyes instead of seeking validation from others. That job you didn’t get chosen for? It allowed you to be available when an opening came for a position in a field that you love. That game you wanted but couldn’t afford? It gave you more time to spend with your family so that you could build a bond that will last for the rest of your life and showed you just how lucky you are. That test you failed? It showed you that you can’t cruise through life without putting in any effort and that you are going to have to work for what you want.
We can’t change the past, so there’s no point in worrying about the 'what if’s' or the 'would have’s.' If it was supposed to happen, it would have. We shouldn’t live a life that makes us regret all of the decisions we’ve made. If we stop creating a world where we always try to be better than the next person, we can focus on the present and learn to be happy with what we have and accept what has happened. We can’t redo the past, but we can learn from it. If you make a mistake, do things differently the next time. If you wish you had taken a chance, there will be more opportunities, so take a risk in the future.
The person you are today is a combination of all of the events and experiences from your past. Without them, you would never be where you are today or know what you do. You had a reason for doing all of the things in your past, so it must have been important to you at the time, even if it didn't turn out like you had planned. Everything happens for a reason, so don’t regret what has happened, embrace it. Meet new people. Take a chance. Do what you love, and don’t look back.
The only thing you can change about the past is the way you view it, so live without regrets and have hope for the future.
