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Non-Fiction
The Mind-Numbing "What If?"
By JourneyAtNight
25 May 2007
Don't really know why I'm posting this. It's just a bit of a ramble - nothing much to respond to, and I shudder to think about the grammatical mistakes.

But anyway, seems as though I'm going through with it regardless!

ESmile

What if. We all reflect on what life could be like if we had done things differently. I guess its part of life really. It eventually follows every decision we make, whether it's down to those mundane day-to-day activities or the 'turns-your-life-around' ones. In four days time for example, I could very well be sitting in that vicious exam hall thinking “If I had spent that hour reading through my lecture notes instead of posting one of my fecking useless rants online, then I might have a clue what this exam paper is on about." Let's hope that's not the case. Point is though - well actually, there isn't one, I'm really just rambling here, but what does constitute one of those 'turns-your-life-around' decisions? We might never truly know - the other consequence will always be an enigma. I suppose that's where God, fate, coincidence or whatever it is you believe in, if indeed you do believe there is some other determining factor, comes into the picture.


Sometimes though, opportunity is shaking you vigorously by the shoulders while you just sit there like a lost cause, not actually realising it until the moment has long passed and you notice that you somehow have whiplash. All that remains is confusion and a pain in the neck.
What if, in that critical moment, instead of sitting there thinking to myself, "Well, would you look at that! My heart just skipped a beat!" I had opened my trap and liberated those words that had been buzzing about my head like wild flies for God knows how long?


Well I suppose thing would be, well, different.

Reviews
Hi Journey at Night
Written by jean.day (2279 comments posted) 24th May 2007
Good luck with your exams. It sounds like you've got a bad case of nerves.  
 
It was fun listening to your ranting.
"What if ...........
Written by Bagheera (683 comments posted) 24th May 2007
........... is better than an "Oh, SHIT!!!" moment :grin  
 
I recognise the exam nerves syndrome, though (my time for such things being looooooong past, luckily!) 
 
You'll do fine. Relax. And if you still have nerves, read Rupert Brookes' "The Road Not Taken" - excellent poem 8)

Written by Phil (6713 comments posted) 26th May 2007
I enjoyed reading this. I'm with Bagheera: 'what if' is better than 'oh shit.' When they both come together it's a real killer. Best to plough on. 
 
Good luck with the exams. 
 
Phil.

Written by JourneyAtNight (314 comments posted) 3rd June 2007
Thanks everyone for enduring the above and leaving your comments. 
 
Exams are finally over. Extremely chuffed to see the back of them - they dragged on so much this year! 
 
Cheers, 
 
E:)

Written by Jacquie (13 comments posted) 4th July 2007
Just found this, read it and really enjoyed it. As you rightly put it, we do all experience those moments. Do you know yet how your exams went and if not...good luck. 
Jacquie

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