The what-if game

By Denise Renée Purdie

I know I’m not the only one to engage in the what-if/sliding glass door game. There are a couple pivotal moments in my life that I feel would’ve led me down a much different path. I won’t say better; I will just say different.

When movies talk about parallel universes, it does get you thinking. I wonder if there is a parallel universe where there is a Renée with nine kids and a husband who loves gardening …

Or maybe there is one with a Renée who is a pilot and a world traveler with stacks of money. Wait! I’m still hoping I can live in that universe!!!

There are also universes where there is no Renée and the Lord has protected me so far from that …

I usually shrug off the what-if game and then start being grateful for the things in my life. I’m going to find that celebration list right now because I need a reminder today as I contemplate the next leg of this journey.

DID IT list:

• Got married

• Rode in a hot air balloon

• Lived in another country for 12 years

• Swam in the Great Barrier Reef

• Visited the Grand Canyon twice. So I’ve seen two of the seven natural wonders of the world!

• Finished my bachelor’s after a 32 year delay

• Finished my first master’s

• Started my own business in 2004

• Published 14 books on Amazon and helped several clients publish their books

• Got baptized after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior

• Appeared on TV

• Bought land and built a house from the ground up with my then husband

I have a lot more things I want to do in my lifetime, but I am sitting on the porch now listening to wind chimes and I’m going to celebrate the journey so far.

Keywords: bucket lists, future, contemplation