What If...

Let’s play the What If game!

What if… I took care of my body when I was 17 and tried to start a fitness routine and gave up after not knowing what I was doing?  What if… I went to college instead of getting married at 18?  What if… I moved to Florida a few years back when I was thinking about it?  What if…

This game can be very self-destructive but can also be quite beneficial.  You can look back on what you might be considered hiccups in your life and either regret them or learn from them.  Let’s look at this one: What if I took care of my body when I was 17 and onward?  Would I have the confidence to do other things that I lacked confidence for?  Would I have given up my healthful lifestyle once I got married or pregnant?  Would I be strong and fit now?  Would I have decided a tan would look good on me as well and develop skin cancer?  There are an infinite number of paths our lives may have lead by the change of one decision and regardless of the thoughts you allows yourself to delve into, your life did not go down that path and this is the one you're on.  The past is nice to reflect on and sometimes is fun to daydream about for a moment, but the present is where we live.   

Every moment and every decision I made in my life has lead me here.  I’m not thrilled with every aspect of my life – who is really?  However, I am taking these moments to reflect on where things could’ve changed and why they didn’t.  I’m learning that a dash of self-assurance and a lot of grit could’ve gotten me a long way.  I may have been slim and fit now if I chose to get healthy earlier.  I may have been well-off and not worrying about bills if I chose to save rather than spend.  I may have not married a second time if I spoke up for what I really wanted.  Life is what I have made it and I am the only person that can choose a different path.

This What If game that I play has lead to another thought.  What If... when I'm 40 I look back at 33 and ask myself "What if I really did rock that tiger dress at 33?  That would've been amazing.  But I'm right where I was then."  That scenario is so very unappealing that I've really gotten my butt in gear this last week.  We all only have a finite amount of time on this earth.  We spend the first 20ish years under our parents direction but the rest of our lives are spent guiding ourselves to happiness, whatever that might mean for each of us.  I haven't made the best decisions with my first 15 years out of the nest, but I plan to make the remainder of my life the very best I can.  It really is never to late to start for any of us!  If we're lucky, we'll get to really live when we're in our 80s and 90s.  None of us hope to be in a nursing home or taking 10 pills each morning or any of the ailments that come with aging.  

 

For me and my boys, I am going to live the best life I can with hopes that I can see my great (great) grandchildren and play with them.  That starts now.  Not tomorrow or in 5 years or when I'm better off.  Now.  Today, I will choose to make my life healthier by walking outside in the beautiful sunshine and fresh air.  Today, I will drink in life and I will resolve this every morning.  

No more regrets.  No more "What Ifs." 

UPDATE: I am finally under 200 lbs!  198.6 and I'm so excited!