The Road of “What If’s!”

We are often caught wondering, “had we taken the right roads, if?”

And what about “”IF””…. Naw not another “IF.”
The Road Not Taken, is that an IF? How would life be, IF you are living your IF! Ponder this for a moment. Our questions come from desire, and desires are within our very selves, does this translate into, “we are living what we are curious about!” Was it what we were seeking! Then potentially we are driving in the right direction of life being “IF.”

I love brain gymnastics, for they have me ponder asking more critical questions. And IF, anyone is questioning their “IF“process, thinking IF is not a productive activity, possibly losing our placements in life. Think more critically rather than judgmentally?

Life is truly a continuous wonderment, are these moments we think through our dreams? If these thoughts are moving through naturally, we do not miss what our wishes are intending; yet how many of us dismiss this unadulterated process.

All too many times we look at ourselves and our lives, thinking less of ourselves, we do not see those past thoughts, the moment they spurred our heart, inner intentions or thoughts; they are long long ways passed. They were less than a second and fleeting. Why attempt to relive what brought us to this moment. We arrived!

Look around yourself, are you pleased or judging yourself? Do you ever give credit for wherever it is you have arrived in life? We are taught for the most part, never to be happy with ourselves, yet the IF is the most supportive way of living. We are continually arriving in life while traveling, working, evaluating, all lending to accumulation of knowledge for the next road.

When a friend is in need we might offer “support for the place they are in their lives.” Then why is this not the habit we find for ourselves? Oh please do not make all the excuses, I know them all to well… And it is painful!

Yes, I never dreamt I would be writing and working with animals, the love of my life. Life came as I developed accompanied by my “IFs.” I started as a teenager with no support, no one truly knew I wrote and had a natural affinity in animal behavior. Life had to appear in other directions first, another format, artfully crafted in serious business lines. Life represents in the other thing I did or did not do that was spoken all to much about, needlessly! Maybe!

A foul human trait, “judgement” yet possibly necessary in the “IF” of life. Recognize while not dismissing every thought from our lives. Glance around, at what we have accomplished, and life is not over or done with, we are still breathing, we are still alive…. the “IF” is still on the immediate horizon. When the “IF” leaves as we take our last breath and close our eyes to this world.

Each moment, each action, every person in our lives has brought us to this point and yes, choices are often difficult to decipher, at this point I say:

Take a Deep Breath and Jump!

What we all forget is, a “Choice” is a moment in life which can be changed and we have another moment to “Choose” another idea! Or blend both together.

We as humans tend to live in a “Limited world.” And thereby have created successfully a very limited life. Ahhhh, take a deep breath at this moment, what IF we are on that road and we are telling ourselves we are failing and not where we ought to be? Which would be the failure? Or, is this moment of life “the success?” With more to come?

“Think Upon These Things” This was a title to a book I read decades ago, and kept for decades until it was stolen. I never could find the original and had to let go, for what I learned was, I was living those words, yet it took some decades to realize. We judge ourselves very harshly and damage our hearts and minds as failed, yet, IF we glanced around that was a mind cluttering judgement of what we have never seen in ourselves or our lives, is that we did take that “IFFY Road” while we are still traveling.

Some of life is impossible to give ourselves a “Good Job” credit. Our dreams are asscue and believing where others seemingly succeed is what is our lost dream and IF.

Yesterday, I allowed myself to rest and watched nature through a panoramic window. A butterfly came fluttering up and down the sweeping glass window, Squirrels scampered along the trees while playing together, once more they ran up the trees disappearing. A joyous pristine wooded area sits quietly for anyone’s pleasure, all we need to do is glance up from our computer toils.

The Rocky Mountains stood tall and clear in the distance, no haze from the heat, and at that very moment a soaring Eagle crossed the blue sky through the pine trees, soaring into the horizon.

Later, as my dog laid sleeping by my side, I glanced upward into the now greying skies, lending a coolness of fall passing while winter is easing into our days.

What IF I did not take that break to look up? The smile I felt throughout my body filled me with joy, all would had been missed.

These moments are difficult for many. Many are homeless and hungry, smiles do not reign in lives. Housing is incredulous to find or potentially purchase or RENT is simply out of reach for the majority; many live in their cars, IF they have a car. Feeling gratitude comes hard and not demanded!

We had dreams! Life did not populate the way we thought, or is life turning and pivoting towards that bend or another place where our hearts will find that joy?

Personally, these past few year have been more than traumatizing for the majority, including myself; I found, after years of searching for a therapist with whom I trust. Now seven month later, I stated to her –

“It took me seven months to come to this point in trusting you, there has been all too much, all too many years of trauma, and these difficult years and other parts of life, unbeknownst to my own self, I came to this point knowing life is impossible to accomplish alone, no matter how smart we are and seven months in trusting my therapist! I am shocked at myself!”

There are no definitives in life. There are many destinations and more to come.

Ergo, let us not limit ourselves to one ideal or some IF’s; life takes many paths, not all wonderful some downright shattered and overwhelmed; and yet some joyous and surprising!

There is no exact recipe for life except to live!