Hindsight- Would You?

The age old question: If you could go back in time, knowing all the things you know now- retaining memory of all the experiences you have had to this point- and do a 'redo' of your life, would you?

I fall into the dream of this once in awhile, just like everyone else. There are certainly times when I wish it was possible- but I stop myself from thinking about it. Why? What's wrong with thinking about it? For me it's summed up in a few lines of lyrics from the musical "Wicked", the song: "I'm Not That Girl"

"Ev'ry so often we long to steal, to the land of what might have been. But that doesn't soften the ache we feel, when reality sets back in"

The solution to the humanistic equation WHO AM IT.. is in fact the total of our experiences. If we could have a 're-do' we would not be who we are, who we were meant to be. We might be thinner, or richer- be the person we wish we could be- but it would be a sham.

This doesn't negate the fact that I do still wish at times for a brief rewind and a second take. Thankfully when I blink a few times and shake my head, I can laugh about the thought, and revisit the reality that making the choices I did, for good or for ill, let's me revel in the uniqueness that is moi.

Deep huh?

Round & Round

I have been hoping all week that my brain would land on a suitable topic for a blog entry. I was at first disappointed when it didn't seem to- then this morning I remembered that there IS NO POINT to this randomness, so it doesn't matter right?

I describe myself frequently as one whose mental age is 20 years (or more) younger than my physical age. A total rationalization of my refusal to grow up- but with age there are SOME perks.
My attitude, however does not preclude my use of hindsight when dealing with those younger than myself.

I often fuss and fume about the decline of civility in our society. I can't deny that a lot of what I view as a departure, or shift, in values- is actually simply my looking in the 'rearview mirror' as times really DO change.

Good Lord, THAT was a tangle wasn't it? Short formed.. I'm getting older, the values that I grew up being taught are not always in play for the upcoming generations. Check!

I guess all I can do is be me. Keep smiling at strangers, doing the things that I do naturally, hoping that it will cause a chain reaction.