We are not living in the Matrix.
There is no red pill or blue pill to choose from.
There is no alternate reality where nothing goes wrong
And all your choices lead to exactly where you want to go.
Real life is non-binary
There are often several paths to choose from
But the outcomes are never guaranteed
And the pay-offs are delayed.
The choices aren’t ‘’Happy’ and ‘Not happy’
Living your best life or screwing it all up.
Our trajectories are rarely linear
For better or for worse.
There are setbacks and come backs
Moments of redemption and seasons of falling from grace.
Not getting into the school you always wanted
Doesn’t mean you are destined to struggle
Nor does getting your dream job
Keep you immune from the possibility of burn out.
We learn from history
But we have no way of knowing
How differently our lives would have turned out
If certain things had happened differently.
Life is too much of a big and terrifying and beautiful thing
To be boiled down to a coin toss-
Heads you are happy with your choices
Tails you have regrets.
We get it all.