Do you ever find yourself replaying decisions from your past, wishing you could rewrite the story? It’s easy to fixate on the paths you didn’t take, the closed doors, or the moments that feel like they’ve determined everything about your present.
“I missed my chance, and now it’s too late.”
“I shouldn’t have made that decision back then; look where it’s left me.”
“I don’t deserve to move forward because of the mistakes I’ve made.”
You’re not alone in these thoughts. We often forget that life isn’t a rigid script but a collection of moments, choices, and lessons. When you look back, it can be tempting to connect the dots in a way that feels final – as if every decision was written in ink. But most choices were made with the best knowledge you had at the time.
Maybe some doors did close – and that’s okay. Some dreams, goals, or ambitions might no longer fit the life you’re living now. And that’s also perfectly fine.
Author Chris Guillbeau once shared the idea of celebrating closed doors. While society often celebrates stories of people achieving their dreams later in life – like actor Samuel L. Jackson, who landed his breakthrough role at 46 – it’s important to recognise that not every aspiration follows that trajectory. Some paths do have deadlines. And holding onto an outdated dream can sometimes keep us from fully embracing what’s next.
Perhaps you’ve been telling yourself, “One day, I’ll run a marathon,” even though you despise running. Or maybe you’ve been holding onto the hope of writing a cookbook even though cooking no longer excites you. Letting go of these paths isn’t a failure – it’s a chance to clear the way for something better aligned with who you are today.
Many paths are still wide open. As Bertrand Russell wisely said, “You’re under no obligation to be who you were five minutes ago.”
Just because one path is no longer an option doesn’t mean you’ve run out of choices. Letting go of old goals can create space for new ones. Imagine how much lighter you’d feel if you stopped regretting the past and instead focused on the possibilities ahead.
Whether starting a new hobby, taking a class, or shifting your career, the future isn’t set in stone. It’s shaped by the actions you take today.
Choosing your next step
So, where do you go from here? Start by celebrating the doors that have closed. Each one taught you something, even if it wasn’t the lesson you expected. Then, take a moment to look at the paths still open to you. What excites you? What feels meaningful now – not 10 years ago, but today?
Whatever it is, remember that progress doesn’t require perfection. It just needs one step forward. Some paths may no longer be an option, but others are waiting for you to take them. The question is: Which one will you choose?
