What if?

Do you ever ponder the question, “What if?”

• What if I didn’t meet that person?
• What if I didn’t take that job?
• What if I had left sooner?
• What if I didn’t talk to that stranger?
• What if I had visited more?
• What if I had told them how I really felt?
• What if I hadn’t have been brave?
• What if I had stood up for myself?
• What if I had kept my mouth shut?
• What if I hadn’t taken the chance?
• What if I hadn’t followed my heart?
• What if I had the courage to follow my dream?
• What if I hadn’t followed my dream?

I’m sure the list could go on and on. I try not to dwell on the “What ifs” of life but I definitely reflect on them from time to time. It’s interesting how life takes a turn and you are heading down a different path. Sometimes a decision seems so subtle but when we reflect on it we can see how much it impacted our life.

I woke up this morning reflecting on life. Where have I been and where am I going. Not dwelling. Not second guessing. Just reflecting. Reflecting on the “What ifs.”

In my old office I used to have lots of encouraging and thought-provoking quotations hanging up. I also had this chalkboard. When I first hung it up I changed the saying regularly. Then as things started happening with my job and I knew a major change was going to happen one way or another I wrote on it, “What if?” A short time later my division of the company was sold and I chose not to take an offer to move to Miami and continue with the new owners. Even though my decision was criticized by others I have never regretted it. When I then moved to the I.T. department and into a cube and didn’t have room for the chalkboard I took it home.

I never hung it up at home and 5 months later we had made the decision to move here to Spain. We hung it up here when we arrived and several times I have looked at it and thought of writing something new. Something thought-provoking. Something inspiring. But then I think…no, leave it the way it is. Because let’s face it if you want something new “What if” works. If you want something thought-provoking “What if” works. And if you want something inspiring “What if” works.

There are days I never notice it and there are days I seem to look at it in each passing and it makes me both reflect and ponder. What if? Two words that are so powerful.