Meant to Be?

Looking back at my life, what is the one decision that I would change if I could?Well, there is one thing that I wish I could do-over. By changing this one thing, my life would’ve taken an entirely different turn. Keep in mind, that I’m very happy with how things have turned out, but I do wonder how things would be different.

Going to college in Eau Claire. I made this decision purely because this was where Lisa went to school. I didn’t even apply to any other locations. I didn’t tour any other schools. I didn’t even contemplate going somewhere else. Lisa went to Eau Claire and therefore – that’s what I did.

When I went to college, quite a few of my high school classmates also went to the same school. Because of this, I didn’t have to expand my friend circle too much and I ended up hanging around with those same girls that I had been with in high school. This wasn’t always the healthiest of choices for me. I remember in one of the houses we lived in, I would lay on my bedroom floor with my ear to the heating vent that lead to the living room and I would listen to some of the girls talking about me. I ended up going to a counselor that year and she advised me that the best thing I could do for my mental health was to move out, but that wasn’t an option.

I had lots of fun at Eau Claire, but when wondering what my life would be like if I had gone to school somewhere else, so many thoughts run thru my head.

If I hadn’t gone to school in Eau Claire, would I have still married my boyfriend from high school? If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have my three wonderful children. I probably would’ve met someone else and maybe I wouldn’t have been able to move back to be close to my family. Maybe that person wouldn’t want kids, maybe that person wouldn’t be able to give me kids.

If I hadn’t gone to school in Eau Claire, would I have studied math and computer science? If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met some of my favorite computer geeks. I wouldn’t have learned the skills I have used my entire working life.

Looking back, I have lots of questions about “What if?”, but after more thought, I realize that everything turned out exactly as it should have. I’m so happy to have my three amazing kids, my life in Beaver Dam with my entire family, and a career in computers that I thoroughly enjoy. So – I guess it was meant to be after all!