Maybe it’s just the end of the year and looking ahead, but let’s be honest.
There are things we’ve all done that we wished had gone differently.
Here are some of mine.
- Not knowing the realities of boy-girl relationships back as a teen. I missed out on a lot of fun and companionship. Maybe I should even add learning to dance, and not that four-square stuff they tried to stuff us into back as sixth-graders. No, New England contras and Greek circles were both epiphanies, much later.
- The big dream that turned out to be false. Along with all the promises I believed.
- Blowups and inadequacies in parenting.
- Divorce. And an inability to confront her long before that. Ancient history now, but even so.
- Hurting others.
- Failing to make a bestsellers list.
- Leaving the Pacific Northwest with my tail tucked ‘tween my legs. Even though I finally wound up living in a couple of places that suit me even better.
- Not being able to see a big research project through to completion. Not our fault, but I still believe it would have made a huge difference in an awareness of how politics and public services really work.
- All the missed social cues and opportunities that went with that. Yes, post high school. It may have even meant my professional career would have gone more Big Time.
- All those years of little to no physical exercise, even if I am in pretty good shape for my age.
Jnana's Red Barn 