Recently I watched the movie "About Time" starring Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson for the 20-somethingth time. If unfamiliar with the plot, it follows the life of Gleeson's character as he and the men in his family have the ability to travel back in time to points in their own lives.
In my opinion, the movie is incredible. The perfect rom-com mix of humor, love, and sadness. But what strikes me, even more, is its ability to make its viewer think. I've watched this countless times with different friends and family, and every time I have the same discussion about how we would take that chance to travel back in time.
My mind immediately wanders to those times in my life that didn't work out, to which I could maybe change. Very similar to what Gleeson's character does. But after considering some of these times, I think of other moments, brighter moments. Moments that instead, I would simply go back to.
This is the difference between content and regret. When we face situations of regret and resentment towards our decisions, it's inevitable that we want to redo. We face an upset image of ourselves and imagine every other possible outcome that may result from just a simple change.
However, it's in memories and happiness that we hope to relive. This doesn't mean there are never periods of the question, periods of whether or not we got what we wanted. In fact, in most cases, we probably didn't have the happiest ending but it's the effects of those situations, which matter most – what results from the event.
For this reason, I'd like to think I'd want to relive more than I redo. I'd like to think I'd return to parts of my life that were exciting and full of love. Days filled with moments of thrill. Those points in my life that I eagerly talk about and share with others.
Of course, this is all hypothetically speaking. As far as I know, Gleeson and his father, portrayed by Bill Nighy, don't really possess the ability to travel back in time. We aren't actually given such opportunities and if we were, yes I'd probably want to change some of those grades, take back some things I said and the little regrets. But overall, (hypothetically speaking) I'd return to moments of happiness, to feel that joy all over again.
