Thank you, Kellie Elmore, for another great prompt. If you have not participated in Kellie’s Free Write Friday, she has extended an open invitation. Read the intro. Would love to ‘see’ what you have to say! You may write in any form you choose for the prompt as she will never discourage your pen, but she encourages you to try your hand at free verse for the exercise.
Here is today’s FWF prompt:
What if…how many times have we posed that question followed by I should have…? ‘If’ is the biggest little word in the dictionary, probably being one of the most often spoken words. We look to the past as though the what ifs will some how make a difference, evoke a change. We make decisions, then, ponder, what if…, we make choices, immediately thinking what if…, we say things to wonder why we spoke and what if we could take it back, we perform a task resulting only in a what if… .
The only good coming out of a what if might possibly be to look to the future with the perspective of those what ifs left behind—Using them as hurdles already jumped, perhaps ending in a fall, helping slow life down just a little, taking the time needed to make the right decision, right choice, right words.
I should have done this, I should have done that, what if I had done this, what if I had done that…sounds like a broken record spinning out of control, life with no direction. You made the decision, live with it. You made the choice, deal with it. You said what was on your mind, let it be. You completed a task, it is done. Move on, forge ahead, leaving the what ifs and should haves to rest in peace as life goes on.
What if all the what ifs I ever said could come to fruition? Then, I would not be who I am, where I am, with who I am today so all the should haves really do not matter after all!
Forget the what ifs…Enjoy the only ifs that matter: BountIFful gIFts of lIFe!
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
Other Contributions…Here are a few that have been posted so far on Kellie’s website:
charleenm says:
Thanks for the inspiration!
http://writingsbycharleen.blogspot.com/2013/12/leaving-home.html
Joseph Hesch says:
Expectations, depression, paralysis by analysis, all dam and damn this poet —
Can Only Tell You
http://wp.me/p1AR9N-26l
Annie’s Muse says:
Now you have done it Kellie — unleashed my sleeping Muse — here is another post for FWF
http://anniesmuse.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/if-only-2/graypoet says:
Another Friday to try to think…. thanks Kellie…
catnipoflife 
yes, yes, yes! Enjoy the bountiful gifts of life. Perfect! Here’s to a new year! Cheers!
Yes!!
That one word means I hit home! 🙂
On Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 5:48 PM, catnipoflife
“‘If’ is the biggest little word in the dictionary” isn’t it though? Something so tiny holds so much power, it’s crazy to think about. nicely done!
Thank you for stopping by and especially for the compliment 🙂
it was my pleasure. I always love to see what everyone comes up with for FWF!
This is just perfect … and … this is my new quote to post & read daily:
Forget the what ifs…Enjoy the only ifs that matter: BountIFful gIFts of lIFe!
That is awesome, Annie 🙂 The line came so naturally at the end of the write. Of course, that is the beauty of a free write!
On Fri, Dec 27, 2013 at 9:00 PM, catnipoflife
Do true … have just down a rough draft of a story that has been rattling in my brain for a while … once the pen hit paper it was like something had taken my hand to tell the story!
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Excellent. I concur. 🙂
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Creative and inspiring. Well done!