Shoulda Woulda Coulda

I am generally a positive person. If one asks me that famous question "What is your greatest regret in life?", I would say nothing major-major in my most beauty-pageant-esque manner. Nothing major, but I didn't say there was none at all. I do have a few shoulda-woulda-coulda moments that sometimes make me wonder, what if?

Should've danced (really danced) when I could (as in really could)
Should've travelled (really far like out of asia) while my money was still mine (as in just mine)
Should've entered law school (yep, really) while I had the chance (sucks that I lacked social science units because I had a techncal course)
Should've pursued that ethical hacking course (almost did) if only there was a chance I'd be working for Interpol (seriously, where would I use it here? Even the tuition for the course is in USD. Ergo, no Philippine market just yet.)
Should've tried being a part-time barista (missing my barista friends) while taking short courses in (insert name of rival school here. Sorry.)
Should've tried renting an apartment with friends (wait... I did) that is NOT for thesis purposes (oh. Right.)
.....and lots of other stuff buried in my subconscious.

But then again, if any of these happened especially for the long term, maybe I wouldn't be having the life I have right now.

I love my life -- for the most part (haha) so I guess that's enough to justify why these things didn't happen.

Trivial should'ves, wondering if I would've if I could've. Something to ponder on.

What goes up.... Doesn't stay there

It's called "gravity" in science. But sometimes it's just called "Life".

Have you ever noticed those times when everything is smooth and under your control, then a series of events happen the effs everything up? It's those times that I feel scared to be very happy again because I start to wonder what the consequence of it might be. But life's too short to be scared to be happy. Whatever the consequence is, it's gonna happen anyway. So might as well be happy, right? Well, easier said than done.

I'm generally a very positive person. But I also have off-days (when I'm hormonally imbalanced haha) when I find myself being realistic. What goes up doesn't stay there. There will always be pitfalls in life. Bumps that need to be endured, with bruises to show for it. But the important thing is how you live your life while you're up there. Do you go all YOLO and wild and free? Or do you live wisely, prepared in case you fall down? Similarly, how do you live when you're down there? Do you go down for the count or refuse to stop getting back up?

People who have experienced how it sucks to fall down appreciate the feeling of going back on top even more. It's sweeter. More meaningful. And when their road gets bumpy? They know how to deal with it, and things eventually return to normal. It's a cycle we all experience, some probably more often than others. We just have to pick up things to learn on the way, so we don't make the same mistakes again.

Through it all, what is important is a strong support system. One that keeps you grounded while you're up there and lifts you up -- may it be by the collar, by the hair, by the leg, or whatever means necessary -- while you're down there.