Wishcast Wednesday - Where do you wish to make a fresh start?

Jamie Ridler's Wishcast prompt this week is:  Where do you wish to make a fresh start?

Thinking, thinking...where is it I always wish I could have a "do over"?  Is my life too broad of an answer???

So many times, I wish I could have a "do over", but only knowing what I know now.  I'm not sure that I wouldn't do the same things, make the same choices/"mistakes", if I hadn't learned so much along the way.

So...I guess, when it really comes down to it--and it does pain me to say this--I would not start over...

I'm actually very surprised to see that in writing.  I can't count the amount of time I have spent, wishing, "if only":

• if only I knew how beautiful I was, I would not have wasted it thinking I was ugly and "settling" for whatever emotionally detached guy pursued me.
• if only I knew how smart I was, I would have continued on in University and received a degree.
• if only I knew that my family, although they loved me, did not really know me, I wouldn't have wasted so much time trying to meet their idea of who I was.  And I would not have accepted/believed the labels provided for me:  too sensitive, emotional, mentally-ill, flaky, naive...
• if only I knew that it was okay to be sensitive, emotional, flaky, I would have accepted myself so much sooner and not wasted time trying not to be.
• if only I knew that I was creative/artistic as a young adult, I might have pursued a completely different path.
• if only I hadn't gained so much weight, I would have the energy to be pursing the life I want to live quicker.
• if only I was better with my finances, I would be able to afford--whatever...

But...the most important thing is that I know all of that now!  I still have challenges accepting the above, and am still "improving".  I still look in the mirror and say things that are not always nice about what I see there.  I still struggle when someone in my family rolls their eyes about something I say--I've had to learn to detach myself a bit, unfortunately, from my family.  I am becoming more and more creative every day and continue to learn more and more about myself

But, what I continue to learn is that we are each on our own path to self-discovery and that this is my path--and it's all okay!!  Okay, I do struggle with that, even though I know it...

Now, as for creative projects, I do start over on those--but that's the great thing, it's okay to do that too--or even, dare I say it, chuck them!!  It all works out okay!

And, just because I collect quotes and this one is my current "mantra", thought I'd share.  It seems appropriate...

For all that has been, "thanks". 
For all that will be, "yes".
- Dag Hammarskjold

Thank you!!

C.