Each life is gifted with endless possibilities
for growth, learning, fulfillment and becoming
Today I went drifting
to other times and places,
to other whens and wheres
I thought about paths not taken,
and changed sequences
of people, events, and situations
unfolded around me
I thought about where I might be
if I'd taken any of those other paths,
and I couldn't help but marvel
how such a sense of warmth could
run so deep yet feel so muted
It was almost a shadow of itself,
surrounded as it was
by the sadness of regret and "if only I had ..."
These visions were so real
that my return to what is now
was a relief and a wondrous surprise
For with all I might have had
or whom I might have become
in those other times and places,
I would not trade
what might have been
for what is
And all I could see now
were all the bright, shining opportunities
scattered along the pathway
of this present time and place
Such a glow they each have,
and the only difficult decision will be
which to reach for first

© Shelley L Flynn
01/2003