Beech Tree News Network

Do you ever want a do-over in life? A do-over has been defined as “a new attempt or opportunity to do something after a previous attempt has been unsuccessful or unsatisfactory” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/do-over). Sometimes in life we get a do-over; but generally, we don’t.

Wondering what others would choose to ‘do over’ in their lives, I asked friends and family the following: “If you were granted one “do-over” related to your past choices, what would you change? (Example: I would change my choice to withdraw from my retirement funds to put money into a house.)” Their responses were:

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Only one? I have 100!

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I would change the decision to reach for that life saver on the way to church the day of my wreck.

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I would not change any of my choices because each choice, good or bad, led me to where I am now. I may not have always made the best choices, but I have so many good things and people in my life because of those choices.

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My first thought was to take back the time I gave to some of the people I dated years ago. They didn’t deserve it. However, I learned valuable lessons from those experiences. So, I think my do-over would be to never light my first cigarette. That is my biggest regret so far, even though I quit smoking many years ago. Who knows what that stupid decision may cost me someday?

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I would have prepared, applied for, and attended the Air Force Academy when offered the opportunity by my uncle.

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Not sure….

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I would have stayed at ERHS and been principal…. That was my true calling.

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I would change my profession from healthcare to art, and then I would proceed to live in Europe and live a carefree life, dabbling in my art.

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I would not have started using credit cards so liberally, nor taken out so many student loans.

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Several do overs, but the past is past. Hoping to use the wisdom gained to live a better life.

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I would finish my education to be able to make more money.

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I would opt to be rich instead of so good looking.

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I would try harder in high school in ALL my classes and be much more careful about taking out student loans. I would have looked much harder for scholarships and applied for hundreds of them! Hindsight is 20/20.

Interestingly, the responses might be broken into the following categories: no do-over or uncertain – 15%; unspecified do-over – 15%; do-over focused on health – 15%; do-over focused on career – 23%; and do-over focused on financial improvement – 31%.

Certainly, a do-over has great daydream appeal. Rob Sheffield said, “Every American wants a clean slate, but nobody wants to lose what they’ve got” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/slate). Even though in most situations a do-over is not possible, we learn from our experiences. And reflection holds the key to change – or a do-over.