Choices: The Path We Walk and The One We Will Never Know.

Imagine, for a moment, standing at a crossroads. You are holding a map of your life, but there are no clear directions. There is only a choice between two paths, one leading left, the other right. Both choices are filled with potential, but you can only walk down one. The decision is yours.

The truth in this situation is that we only know what happened on the path we chose. The life you are living today is the result of the decisions you made. Yet, each decision carries with it the question: What might have been? It is the part of the decision that we sometimes have to face, the grief of the road we didn’t take. But the truth is, we can’t live both realities. Instead of investing so much time and energy imagining what might have been. We need to learn how to make peace with the choices we have made, knowing that the other path remains a mystery.

The Power of Choices

As we step into the promising unknown of 2025, I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact two videos had on my perspective in 2024.?Esther Perel’s?reflections on the nature of choice and?Pursuit of Wonder’s?exploration of life’s decisions left me thinking deeply about how we approach our choices.

Perel’s words, “Every choice carries grief for the option we didn’t choose,” struck a chord with me. It is the truth we often overlook, that every choice we make carries with it a subtle sense of loss, the life we could have lived had we taken the other path. But my reflection on this is not about regrets. It is about understanding the weight of our decisions and how they shape our future.

As Pursuit of Wonder beautifully puts it, we often worry about regretting our choice, fearing that we have chosen the wrong one. But how can we ever truly know what we are regretting? Regret would imply there was a “right” choice. But how could there ever be one? Regardless of the path we choose, there will always be something to cherish and something to regret, but the real regret would be in not making the decision for yourself.

Choices and Changes

Take a moment and reflect on your last year, think about the decisions you made, small or significant that led to where you are now. Perhaps there were moments when you had to take risks, challenge the status quo, or step into something unknown. Other times, the easier choice was to stay with what was comfortable, familiar, and stable.

What becomes clear over time is this: every choice leads to change. Whether it is a change in your career, your relationships, or even your personal growth, each decision pushes you in a new direction. And while you might wonder about the life you didn’t choose, it is important to remember that the change you experience from the path you have taken is just as valid.

Change is inevitable, and it is often through change that we grow the most. We thrive in the uncertainty of new experiences, even though they may come with challenges. Change brings opportunities for learning and self-discovery.

Embracing the Unknown of 2025

This year presents yet another threshold of new decisions you will have to make. This year will bring moments when you will need to choose between options that each promise something different. Some choices will push us out of our comfort zones, while others will challenge us to dig deeper into what we already know.

Every decision, whether in our career, relationships, or personal growth, carries the potential to create a life uniquely ours. It’s not about knowing every outcome, but about embracing the journey and trusting that each choice you make will lead you to the life you're meant to live.

So, as you reflect on 2024 and prepare for 2025, remember: It is not about knowing what could have been, it is about making the most of what is, and the infinite possibilities that lie ahead.

You may wonder which choice was "right," but maybe there isn’t a right choice. Maybe there is just a choice. Some decisions aren’t hard because there is a better option, but because there isn’t a guaranteed outcome.

Here’s to the choices ahead, and the stories you will create in the year to come.