Would You Do It Over?

It's an age-old question. If you had a chance to make different choices in your life, would you change things? If you knew then what you know now, would you do things the same way? It's interesting to ponder these things, and it's probably a difficult decision. After all, we wouldn't be who we are now if it wasn't for the events that shaped us.

I think about this at times. There are many, many times when I regret my decision to become a veterinarian. Over my years of practice, I have found it harder rather than easier to handle the serious or life-and-death decisions. I get very tired of dogs and cats trying to bite and scratch me. Things that were once fun are now tedious. I've also discovered other interests and abilities. I've learned that I have great natural skill as a public speaker and teacher. I've grown a great interest in history and religion. And I've even stated that if I could do it over again I would become a college history professor instead.

But would I really? As much as I hate my job and even profession sometimes, I wouldn't be the same person without it. I wouldn't have had a reason to move to where I met my wife, and wouldn't have my perfect partner and two beautiful children. For all I know, I'd be writing a blog about how much I hated history and wished I had pursued my interest in veterinary medicine. In the end, though it's speculation, and a bit of a fruitless excercise since we can't do anything about our past.

What about you? What would you do differently if you could? And looking on how it impacted on how you turned out today, would you really change it? It's said that those who don't learn from the past are destined to repeat it. What can we learn about what went on in our personal past to help guide us into the future?