By Lois Hewitt

Today my thoughts wondered, as they often do, to the past.  I thought about all my mistakes and the wrong turns I took.

I wished I could go back and do it all again.  Oh, the things I would stay clear of and the things I would embrace.

I thought about how I would act different and speak better and write more.  I would not care what the world thinks of me.

I would quit apologizing for absolutely everything. I would lose the guilt because I would do everything right.

I would stay in school and learn all I could. A real diploma would be in my hand.

I would work and save money. I would know the value of things and not just spend for the sake of spending.

Oh if only I could go back and do it again.  Then I thought…

Without all the missteps, what would I have learned?  They taught me more than any classroom. If I went back and lived an opposite live, would I be any better off than I am today?

I might have more money,  retirement plan, maybe a house, things probably.  But what kind of person would I be without the mistakes and the humility?

I kinda like the person in the mirror. She is quirky and scarred but not all that bad.  The experiences we live through, even if it’s just barely, mold us and shape who we are.

The person I was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, I am not today.  Much better I would say. Still not without flaws. So a different life then would mean a different life now and I’m not sure I would like that.

I certainly do not have all the trappings of a successful life (by the world’s terms) but I feel blessed beyond measure without those things.  Life is more than stuff. 

After I pondered on what my life would look like had I done things differently, I concluded that it may not have worked out as well as I think.

So today I will embrace the past, one which showed me the True Path.  I will embrace the today me and look forward to more growth.  I will embrace all that I have and be content with all that I don’t have. 

I guess it’s a good thing we can’t go back.  How would today look if we did?  Embrace who you are today and love that person.  They walked through hot coals to get here and they deserve some respect.

Embrace the old you for the lessons they taught, embrace the current you for you are a warrior and embrace the you to come.