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Daily Question, May 22

If you could live ONE day over, what day would it be? Why?

  • Cathy
    If given that crazy opportunity, it would be the day I gave my heart, body, mind, and soul to one of the meanest men on this earth. I was 17 years old and madly attracted to the 'bad boy' in high school. The abuse I allowed over the next two years patterned the course of most of the rest of my life. It took getting to about age 60 to see it, understand it, and get over it. Just that one day determined my path and I'd change it in a heartbeat if I could live that ONE day over. In retrospect, ...

    If given that crazy opportunity, it would be the day I gave my heart, body, mind, and soul to one of the meanest men on this earth. I was 17 years old and madly attracted to the ‘bad boy’ in high school. The abuse I allowed over the next two years patterned the course of most of the rest of my life. It took getting to about age 60 to see it, understand it, and get over it. Just that one day determined my path and I’d change it in a heartbeat if I could live that ONE day over.

    In retrospect, I am eternally grateful for the place in life I am today. So did I need to live through all that to get to this? Or could I have had this all my life, had I made a different choice that day? Hmmm.

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    • Elizabeth

      You are incredible to realise and accept this. It is wonderful that you feel you can share this. I hope you never have any regrets, and have lived your life in spite of your scars.

      • Cathy
        Oh, Elizabeth- I’ve had a fantastic life (so far!). I have three grown sons, all married to wonderful girls, and my oldest has twin babies! I am married (third time is the charm) to a man with a good heart and soul. We have most of the types of hobbies and get the most joy from similar things. We live in a climate we love and have created businesses that allow us to do the kind of work we are best at. Perhaps I should have read everyone’s thoughts here before I commented. I might have though...

        Oh, Elizabeth- I’ve had a fantastic life (so far!). I have three grown sons, all married to wonderful girls, and my oldest has twin babies! I am married (third time is the charm) to a man with a good heart and soul. We have most of the types of hobbies and get the most joy from similar things. We live in a climate we love and have created businesses that allow us to do the kind of work we are best at. Perhaps I should have read everyone’s thoughts here before I commented. I might have thought more deeply before I answered, although what I spoke of is truly what I regret. But if changing that would have changed where I am right this moment in life, then I guess I’d have to agree to not wanting to live any day over again! Thanks for your kind comment!

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        • Elizabeth

          That is wonderful, and I wish you luck in life. It is great you are doing well and are happy. I hope I am half as happy as you seem to be when I have kids and get married. And, yes. Life moves forward. It is our job to try and keep up, and not ever look back.

    • Mica

      It IS wonderful to have moved beyond an unhappy place and to be able to rejoice in not being there. But my unhappy place wasn’t as bad.

      • Cathy

        No comparisons, Mica. For you, it was what it was. For me, it was what it was. There is no better or worse. But I sure am glad we are both rejoicing today!

        • Mica

          Yes, Cathy, my ex used to say ‘comparisons are odious,’ tho he tended to make comparisons.

    • slawrence

      Love to you! You are worthy of so much more. I was able to tell my daughter before she became ill and died that even though her husband said she deserved everything she got, God did NOT think that! God wants good things for her. In that moment her face lit up and she was so joyful. She had believed a lie for so long. What a blessing to have that memory of her realization.

  • Mark Piper
    I cannot readily choose one for myself. There are a few days that were wonderful for me, and I'd happily relive those experiences/days; there are a few days that were also good but I was a bit uptight and would happily relive them to be more attuned and less stressed, to more readily enjoy the joy I knew that surrounded me. But, I'd flip this... I'd be happy to wake up tomorrow and relive a day that someone else wants me to relive. Perhaps I did well, perhaps I let someone down, perhaps I pl...

    I cannot readily choose one for myself. There are a few days that were wonderful for me, and I’d happily relive those experiences/days; there are a few days that were also good but I was a bit uptight and would happily relive them to be more attuned and less stressed, to more readily enjoy the joy I knew that surrounded me.

    But, I’d flip this… I’d be happy to wake up tomorrow and relive a day that someone else wants me to relive. Perhaps I did well, perhaps I let someone down, perhaps I played a good role or perhaps I played the role of the protagonist. I’d relive a day for the benefit of someone else.

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  • Katrina
    It would be the day my mother confessed to me that she had not been to worship or received Holy Communion in a long time...because she couldn't kneel. She didn't want to call attention to herself by asking to be served in her pew. So she just didn't go. I listened compassionately and told her she really could ask the pastor to even bring it to her home. Then later, after her death only months later, I realized, I am an ordained minister who could have celebrated Holy Communion with her and some ...

    It would be the day my mother confessed to me that she had not been to worship or received Holy Communion in a long time…because she couldn’t kneel. She didn’t want to call attention to herself by asking to be served in her pew. So she just didn’t go. I listened compassionately and told her she really could ask the pastor to even bring it to her home. Then later, after her death only months later, I realized, I am an ordained minister who could have celebrated Holy Communion with her and some friends right there in her home. Why didn’t I do that? I would live that day over, just do do that one act of compassion.

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    • Mica

      Yes, celebrating communion for her would have been a fun memory, but what you did[n’t] do was fine, too. Maybe you can enjoy imagining what the communion would have been like.

    • slawrence

      Neither of you thought of it. Sometimes there are so many distractions in life the simplest things get by us. I’m sure she was so blessed the day you were ordained. It’s beautiful that she felt she could confess to you and trust you not to judge her, but give her your compassion and love instead.

  • sunnypatti
    While there are days I can picture in my mind that would change so much if I could have a do-over with them, I just can't fathom actually doing so because I would not be here, right now, living my life exactly the way God meant for me to be doing so. I stayed in a toxic and abusive marriage for way too long, but the lessons I learned when I found the courage to leave were vital for my life. I got fired from a job I thought I would do forever, but that was a blessing as the owners were part of a ...

    While there are days I can picture in my mind that would change so much if I could have a do-over with them, I just can’t fathom actually doing so because I would not be here, right now, living my life exactly the way God meant for me to be doing so. I stayed in a toxic and abusive marriage for way too long, but the lessons I learned when I found the courage to leave were vital for my life. I got fired from a job I thought I would do forever, but that was a blessing as the owners were part of a cult and shunned me when I stopped seeing their life coach (aka cult leader). If I wouldn’t have gotten fired from that job, I wouldn’t have the job I have right now…. where I met my soulmate!

    I could name a few other days, life situations, that I might have wanted to live over, but everything happens so perfectly – despite the hard times. I do believe we have lessons to learn. Then we shift and grow, and hopefully find the happy lives that God so wants us to have. My life isn’t perfect, but I have a great partner, a loving and forgiving family, a great job and money in the bank. The money isn’t the most important part, but there was a time in my life where I lived in lack and never had enough. I like to say these days that my life keeps getting better… and those words keep manifesting into truth! God is good!

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    • Mica

      Indeed, sunnypatti – maybe everything happens so perfectly, partly because of the hard times we can look back on and be so grateful they have passed.

  • Julian Daal Childers

    It would be the day I believed that that I bought the lie that I was anything less than perfect. I don’t know what day that was but that would be the day I lived over Why? Because from that belief has come many a days that have lead me away from my true identity.

  • devy

    I try to think Everyday is a new day.. The past is gone . I want to Embrace everyday with gratitude either as a good experience or a lesson…

  • SaVaLoS

    The day I made a terrible choice that led to the same terrible thing happening over and over for the past several years. I suppose it was merely the culmination point of a series of unfortunate events in retrospect.

    If only I could go back to that day and have undone that choice.

    Nothing you can go to jail for honestly however I have done those bad things too here.

    I didn’t hurt anyone physically.

    I hurt myself actually unintentionally.

    Oh God what have I done!

    • Vicki
      Try to envision being held in loving arms, forgiving arms and with the face of someone smiling at you just because you are there to be held. The warmth of a sincere hug is all-encompassing and you are worthy of that, that depth of forgiveness and unconditional love. Once we dabble into the gigantic world of being able to forgive ourselves and feel that kind of love, then we can take that next necessary step of loving others even more than we thought we had. You are worthy of love. You are wo...

      Try to envision being held in loving arms, forgiving arms and with the face of someone smiling at you just because you are there to be held. The warmth of a sincere hug is all-encompassing and you are worthy of that, that depth of forgiveness and unconditional love. Once we dabble into the gigantic world of being able to forgive ourselves and feel that kind of love, then we can take that next necessary step of loving others even more than we thought we had.

      You are worthy of love. You are worthy of forgiveness. You are worthy of making this the beginning of an amazing new life that is not restricted by guilt and anguish. It is time to begin healing and meet the new you. God is with you by the good people he puts in your life’s journey, but for today, say “Hello” to yourself–your new best friend.

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  • Michele

    It would be the first time I kissed a girl. Life changing:)

  • Kevin

    I honestly cannot think of a day I would like to live over again for myself. Therefore, my do-over day is this: I would attempt in any way possible, to alert authorities to what was about to happen on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

  • Lioness
    I prefer to be grateful simply for the fact that I have had one more day. Are there things I would like to have gone differently? Of course. But I need to accept that whatever happened has happened and it cannot be changed. Instead I try to look for the positive in everything, even if it is a negative. It is often hard to do that but in most circumstances I can eventually. But, embracing the question, the one day I would like to relive would be my wedding day, as I would want to be marrying my m...

    I prefer to be grateful simply for the fact that I have had one more day. Are there things I would like to have gone differently? Of course. But I need to accept that whatever happened has happened and it cannot be changed. Instead I try to look for the positive in everything, even if it is a negative. It is often hard to do that but in most circumstances I can eventually. But, embracing the question, the one day I would like to relive would be my wedding day, as I would want to be marrying my man without his hidden alcoholism. I would have still married him, and I look forward to us renewing our vows perhaps when he has been sober for 5 years, he is half way there for which I am proud of him and grateful. However, it does not stop my memories being slightly tainted, no matter how hard I try to make them not.

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    • Kevin

      Good morning, Lioness. Such a tender story here. Thank you. And I pray that your husband makes it to his fifth year sober. A day that you both get to celebrate in so many ways!

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