Stakes

I can now look back and see the results of my actions and those of others with respect to where I am today. When we are younger we use defense mechanisms and ideas developed in childhood and we plow along without a deeper understanding of the stakes sometimes involved in life.

It is only later that we look back at what turned out and what didn't with what can be a combination of satisfaction and also regret. We aren't perfect beings by any means and the dominoes fall sometimes according to initial actions we didn't think would lead where they did.

The easiest thing might be to be racked with guilt regarding some of it and get mired when instead the best solution is to draw lessons and go forward as a new person who has grown from the experiences.