Noticing What I've Been Neglecting

Letting our what-ifs guide us

Lately, I’ve noticed the small but important things I’ve been neglecting - rest, honesty with myself, and the quiet desires I keep putting off. Along with this comes a stream of what-ifs: choices I question, words I didn’t say, paths I didn’t take.

Photo by Stephen Harlan on Unsplash

I decided to sit down and write a list of what-ifs without censoring myself. Here is the top-of-my-head list:

• What if I spent more time on my writing?

• What if I kept my promises to myself?

• What if I focused on the present moment much more mindfully?

• What if I dusted my dreams off the shelf and rellooked at the them

• What if I dared to try out new ways of writing - much like I try out new recipes?

• What if I rested more and felt less guilty about my to-do list?

• What if I consumed less and created more?

• What if I apprecieted and acknowledged myself better?

• What if I listened more deeply to others - going beyond their words?

• What if I spent more quiet time and didn’t feel complelled to do something?

• What if I ventured out of my comfort zone and attempted to work on a brand new way of being creative?

I want to end with a gentle reminder - for myself and for you. We don’t look back to punish ourselves or to replay our mistakes endlessly. We look back to notice what needs care, what has been waiting patiently for our attention. This is a reminder to soften instead of judge, to tend to what matters, and to choose differently - slowly, imperfectly, but with more kindness.