It’s Mark Twain’s words. I forget the exact quote (sorry Twain) since I only had a glimpse of it on the wall (when I was passing through the hallway) of a company office months ago. It goes something like this: In 20 years, you will be more disappointed not by the things you did, but by the things you did not do.
Like a cassette tape rewinding, my mind had instantly raced back to my memories twenty years ago. And yes, I could not remember any good thing. Damn, twenty years ago I was only three years old - still the unknowing kid. LOL
And like a magnetic compass, my mind had switched north - to my future. In twenty years, I will be in my 40’s. I wonder if the things that make me happy now will be the same things that shall make me happy by then. Will I be able to value the good things that I had, the fond memories of the past, and the series of years that had shaped me? Or will it be the contrary? That all my regrets, that the hurts and unforgiven mistakes from before, and that all the things I miss in life will take toll and make me feel incomplete. That I would wish time to wind back so I could fill the holes in my life.
Nobody has a perfect life. The best-laid plans could easily be wasted, as much as a satisfied person could suddenly be feeling abandoned by changes. It’s sad to think that the years of happiness would weigh no more than an hour of loneliness. But people are people, and the world is the world. The world will not stop turning to celebrate a beautiful moment, nor will it turn back to correct a mistake or regret. So people must move on.
Maybe that is why we love having memorabilia and souvenirs. Photos and videos, for us to reminisce the past joyous moments. Medals and certificates, for us to be reminded that some time in our lives we had been great. Letters, Facebook and the other networking means, for us to recommunicate to the people we met along the way. And diaries, journals and blogs, for us to relive our old lives. And I guess I have all of the above. LOL
Well, Twain could be right. The number of years may be not twenty, maybe less or more. Whatever, the thought is pretty creepy. So before I forget them, I think I would have to write every good thing (maybe I’ll include bad ones) that happens. And let me begin with…
I have her back…
I have it back…
I have them back…
And hopefully, I’ll have the others back….
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
