Given a chance would you like to wipe the slate clean and start all over again ?

@kiran8 (15348)
Mangalore, India
October 1, 2010 10:15am CST
Given a chance, friends would you like to wipe the slate clean and start all over again in your life ...?? I know this cannot happen, but suppose , just suppose that we were given a chance to live , say 10 or 15 years of our past life all over again, would we do it differently ? Not make the same mistakes ? ... Guess what ? When I put this question to myself and began analysing some of the situations and experiences that I had gone through in my life, that had disturbed me or made an impact either in a positive manner or in a negative manner, I felt that I could not have done it any differently. The reason being, That when it is a serious matter , I have been careful in my reactions and the act was the result of something that had built up over a period of time and it had to come out in the open at some time or the other. In most cases I realised that this was the truth , but in some minor incidents where I had been overtly impulsive or acted in a stupid or foolish manner, I could have definitely acted differently.. So, in my opinion if given a chance to go back in life again and start all over again, in all probabilities I would act and lead life the same way as I did before...
2 people like this
16 responses
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
2 Oct 10
hi kiran, one trait when i was younger would be changed. i guess many are impulsive while young, and would not look ahead before leaping hence the consequence of their action would alter the path they are aiming. that, happened to me. so if i am given the chance to wipe the slate clean.. i would say, just that part of my life. the rest is ok. thank you for this discussion. ann
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
3 Oct 10
Hi tigeraunt, It was the same with me...impulsive and impatient, and then regret what I did, makes you wonder if all people are the same.But I know some who are so balanced and cool headed while reacting - anyway no use in looking back, just concentrate on the present and the future - thanks a lot for the response and have a great week ahead
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
2 Oct 10
It would be a great feeling to be able to wipe the slate clean and start all over again. there are so many things that I would do differently. So many travesties could be avoided if i had chosen a different path. it would be an opportunity worth having.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
3 Oct 10
Hi sender, I know, sometimes one wishes for a magic lamp, so that we can turn the clock back and live life all over again and hopefully do all the right things, thanks a lot for your views and happy mylotting
• Philippines
2 Oct 10
Hi, Kiran. There are many things that I have done in the past that I am not really proud of and is still regretting it until now. But I wouldn't have been so secured about myself if those moments didn't happen. We all learn the hard way and I know majority of us would like a clean slate after all the struggles that we've been through. But we could achieve all of that without having to return back in time. We can do it by humbly accepting the mistakes we did, forgive ourselves and try to move on for our future. And our faith to the higher power helps a lot too plus the loving family and friends around us who gives their never ending support. Cheers to you, my friend. =)
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi tud, I guess we all have many things in our past , that we would like to wish away...As you say, it is the mistakes which become our experiences that make us what we are and shapes our personality. So never regret anything in life, simply because you cant undo it.If possible we can make amends if it concerns some other individuals, otherwise if it is personal, then best to move on ...have a nice sunday
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
2 Oct 10
For the most part, I've thought major life decisions through thoroughly before making a decision. Once I made a decision, I didn't agonize over it nor did I look back. I always felt that I made the best decision with the information that I had available to me at the time. For those things that didn't turn out the way that I hoped, I've always felt that they were life lessons and contributed to the person that I am today. I wouldn't change a thing.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
3 Oct 10
Hi Lauren, thanks a lot for the response That's the way I feel about my past. It is easy to look back now when you are older and think that we could have acted differently with more maturity and wisdom.....All the best and happy mylotting
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
2 Oct 10
I have been fairly good in life with no major wrong doing and no enemies and would not want to start all over again! Even if I wanted to, The bank wont let me. They keep looking over my shoulder to see how much I am making. I have to repay their loans you see!
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
3 Oct 10
Hi webearn, lol, I can imagine how it is with repayment...You are lucky that you have led a good life with no major wrong doings ...all the best and happy mylotting
@guppydas (14)
• Thailand
2 Oct 10
Very well said my dear friend. Your views are simply, true. I find it a bit strange when people assume that then when we talk about reliving the past, it will be together with the wisdom of present. Which I think is just dreaming. Theoretically, for a moment let's say you do get such a chance. You do get to relive the past with the wisdom and knowledge what you have from the present, then I think it is dangerous. If you go in past and change things, your present will be different. You are what you are now because of what you did in the past. Right or wrong. The way you are now, you are perfect. My interest has always been in present, in the moment and I live with that. I seldom ponder on issues of past. I let those events be building blocks of my life. If I do find any event having a negative impact on my present, I consciously try and erase it. This way I can ensure that I won't make the same mistakes again. Thank you for such a good topic. Peace be with you.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi guppydas,I agree with that whole heartedly, thats exactly how I thought too...No matter what ,we have to accept ourselves and may be change as and when needed. I too live for the present and believe that it is best to forget the past or take it at best as an experience ....thanks a lot for the response and have a great Sunday
@Trace86 (5030)
• United States
2 Oct 10
I think if I were given the chance to go back to a certain point in time and start again from there, I would. Maybe I would make the same choices, maybe I wouldn't. I would just like to back to freshman year in college and change one bad decision I made that influenced all other decisions that came after.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi Trace, You know I too started my imagination from my college days onwards, probably that's when you make the most number of mistakes and regret it too..But on second thoughts , I am sure that it has made you wiser and mature and better at handling certain situations in life....all the best and happy mylotting
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
1 Oct 10
Wow! Kiran, you are looking great in your avatar. Coming back to your question, I would not like to wipe the slate clean, as life has taught me many lesson and I would not like to re-start it from scratch. I know there is no substitute of experience.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Thanks a lot deepak, the picture was taken by my daughter on Jungfrau in Switzerland as we were getting ready to take the train up to the top.... I agree that experience is the best teacher and nothing else comes close to that. That is what is meant by wisdom - all the best deepak and have a great weekend
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
1 Oct 10
I would change some things, but I wouldn't totally wipe the slate clean and start over.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
I think that makes sense dawald ! we may want to retain some of them and only change a things in our past life ...all the best and have a great weekend
1 Oct 10
I've always said that you can't change from the past only learn from the mistakes. But in all honesty there are two very big mistakes I made in my life during my 20s that I regret and would love to be able and go and redo. They're personel so no details, but I am sure my life would have turned out very different if I hadn't made the wrong decision.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi tdc, I think most of us would have made one or more serious mistakes in our lives. It has happened with me too, but looking back I take it as a lesson in life. I am sure thats the best thing to do.Probably those mistakes have shaped your personality today and you may have gained wisdom and a certain amount of maturity only because of them , that is possible isnt it ? But sometimes one does wish, if we could put the clock back and start all over again...have a nice weekend
@kawalnarang (1095)
• Trinidad And Tobago
1 Oct 10
I agree with u a full one hundred percent,, we all wish that life could have been better (IF we had planned it a lil bit differently).....We know one thing that whatever happens is according to the will of GOD the Almighty,,and I also believe that whatever happens ,,happens for the best,,all good times and no bad times,,as we all wish ,would not make us stronger.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi kawalnarang, thanks a lot for your response,hope you have been well I know that it is best to leave things as they are, but sometimes one wonders if such and such a thing had not happened in my life or happened differently , what then ? all the best and have a great weekend
@UmiNoor (4483)
• Malaysia
2 Oct 10
This is a very interesting discussion kiran8. There are moments in my life when I wish I could change certain parts of my life and start over again. And there are times when I wish I could go back in time to change some things I'm not proud of. Having said that I think that the mistakes that I made in the past are what define who I am now. So would I change who I am now? Perhaps. But if I do that I won't have met my husband and have the children that I have now. I won't be participating in myLot probably and I won't be trying to make money online either. I always wonder if I'd taken a different path would I be a different person now. Maybe I would but then again maybe not. I believe that whatever path I had taken it would have brought me to the same position I am now because that is what destiny is.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi Uminoor, thanks a lot I have similar feelings as you, in fact I have always felt that I am who I am because of all those mistakes or experiences.You know mistakes become experiences in later life when you look back.But it is nice to think back and visualise what our life would have been , if ?...have a nice weekend Umi and all the best
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
1 Oct 10
Hello kiran8, I thought about this for a long time. I still want to say yes. People keep telling me I should have no regrets and I get more from guys then females. I know if Iwipe the slate clean then everything will switch from boyfreinds and freinds and my life. But I still want too. I want to see would I make the same mistakes? if I do would I recognize it and make a differnt answer. You see if make the same mistakes then it was meant to be and I would have no regrets then. Does this make sense. But if I made differnt choices and I turned out better then what? But I make worse choice then I was doomed from the start! Thanks and have a great day! Sincerley Unique16
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi unique, It does make sense and thats exactly what I said in my discussion, that when i analysed I felt that in most cases i would probably behave exactly as i did even if I get another chance...So all in all , some fantasies better remain so instead of becoming real lol...all the best and have a great weekend
• India
1 Oct 10
Hello Usha I must congrat you for this wonderful discussion, as we grow older we mature and learn many things from our experiemces here, these are both positive as well as negetive.. Well given a chance i will start my life again and try to rectify my mistakes, would like to be good to all.. Thanks for sharing. Cheers. Professor. .
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi professor, thanks a lot for the response Thats great to be starting all over again and hopefully making it happier and better for everyone...I wish it could happen - all the best and have a great weekend
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
1 Oct 10
Hullo Kiran! Well, I too feel that in most cases I would have behaved the same way as what I would behave now especially as regards my profession /freelancing teaching career or investment decisions .Here I had done the best I could and have no regrets whatsoever. But regarding my personal life, in my interactions with close people I have some scars that would stay with me till I die. I may have behaved better ; I may have shown some greatert maturity, less attachemnt and less sentimentality.I may have behaved ina more objective sensible manner. Now I have become more wise and resigned to certain things.I used to protest against some things in the past , leading to a lot of heartache and estrangements.
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi kala, It is not where we have done our best alone , but even when we have acted in probably not so flattering way, it still is a sum total of our personality,circumstances and outside factors I feel, what do you say kala? I agree that as we grow older we do tend to act differently and expectations from others too differs . What i could do and get away with at 25 may not be possible now...lol
• India
1 Oct 10
Certainly i would. but not clean all and re-write. may b correct certain pages of my past life.coz, i am very much confident that i have so far made only A LOT GOOD and few NOT SO GOOD things. I am now practicing to live in a RELAX mode. (see my profile on my recent discussion. of course TO ERR is human. but given a chance we can get it corrected. No regret in doing the correction. :)
@kiran8 (15348)
• Mangalore, India
2 Oct 10
Hi,Thnaks a lot for the response, In a minute will look into your profile and the discussion you mention...I guess it would be nice if we can erase parts of our past lives and fill it in differently - wishful thinking ! -all the best and have a great weekend