What If? (Redux)

I originally wrote this in February of 2008, but I think it's applicable anytime when you're making big decisions or trying to remember why you made them in the first place. I hope it helps ease some of your minds. - Kari :)

It's that time of the year when many decisions are made and "what ifs" are front and center. I am starting to see a lot of action on our social network, My CoolWorks, regarding questions from job seekers about whether or not they are making the right choice for the summer of 2009. Have I chosen the right summer job? Will I hate it? Will I love it? Which location is better? Is anyone else going there too? AM I MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE? I've been around the block long enough to know that no one wants to make a bad choice, but sometimes, well really all the time, you've still got to make a decision based on the information that's in front of you right here and now. No one has a crystal ball to be able to tell you that everything will be okay. It's a leap of faith that we all make every day of our lives.

A few times recently and several times over my lifetime, I have been presented with the "What if" scenario and I must admit it really sucks to go through the thought process of "What could've been" and the realization that "I guess it wasn't meant to be." Usually these thoughts are full of regret, anger, sadness, the lure of "the road not taken," and other doubting thoughts. But, if one has faith, and I do, the upside is perhaps that maybe that person, opportunity, job, you name it, wasn't the right "road" to go down, and the many decisions that I made along the way and other events which sent me on a different path were done for a very good reason.

A couple of quotes come to mind.


"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." - Kierkegaard

"Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control?" - From "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley


Why am I writing this to you right now? Well, 1) the experience of the "what if" is fresh in my mind and it is cathartic to write about it and know that I am not alone in these thoughts. 2) Whatever decision you make about your summer job for 2009, it's not the end of the world. This job will last 3-6 months and then you can move on from it if you wish or you may find that it is the best decision that you ever made. Just make it and move on with your life.


Parting quote:
"Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out." - James B. Conant


Good luck with your decisions folks!