Be Kind, Rewind

From the video rental world, we have become programmed to desire "do-overs." It has identified the wish in most of us, to want to "rewind" some of the difficult or unpleasant aspects of our lives.
Do you remember the times at recess when you were in elementary school where you were playing some kind of sport -- tetherball, kickball, dodgeball, 4 square, hopscotch, jacks or whatever...and your competitive spirit kicked in to gear when you lost, and you shouted "I want do-overs..." Hoping that your opponent would give you a second chance to redeem yourself, by playing the game again. Sometimes our opponants are happy with the outcome, and they do not want to risk rewinding. We simply had to accept our loss. Usually such a win-lose situation signified (sometimes psychologically) that the other was somehow "better" than us.
I don't think we've ever replaced this drive. Our desire for "do-overs" is just as intense today as it was when we were much younger.
We can see examples (sometimes more subtle examples) of people desiring "do-overs." Most long for the "good 'ol days" and they seek ways of incorporating pieces of that happier times into their present lives. We never really get over yelling DO-OVERS when we feel that something is unfair in our present situations.
Unfortunately if we do get a second chance,we can only approach those circumstances with the knowledge and wisdom we had at the time. For instance, I think of countless sleepless nights that I spent when my children were infants. I often wished that I could have the experience of a newborn baby with the strength and understanding that only became mine when we were six months or more down the development road.
I guess if I could return to some of life's experiences with the knowledge, understanding and empathy evident in my more mature development, it would be lovely to have a rewind button that would permanently erase the mistakes and shortcomings that have plagued my life as I have tried to grow up. Or perhaps it would be enough if I could simply erase my hardest trials or glaring mistakes. But if the rule in having "do-overs" means that I can only return to the understanding and abilities that were available to me at an earlier time, I do not think I would rewind. Once is enough, thank you very much.
Assuming that we/I did our best in the circumstances we were dealt, what else is there? One's best is all that can be asked for. As I used to tell my students, "go ahead and make mistakes. Just make sure that they are new ones'...then there is evidence that you are growing." Making the same mistake over and over again sometimes happens while a person is learning, but if the mistakes become chronic, one can guess or feel that learning and/or understanding is not taking root. While the outcome of implementing changes can only be assumed, we never really know what has planted itself in a person's heart and soul. But once awareness is obviously gained, mistakes move to past tense; and it's time to watch for evidence of new growth.

A Description of Passing thru Hope

I'm brand new at this blogging thing, so here it goes...I will begin by explaining the title of this blog. After completing a year at the NYU rehab I was enrolled in, I flew to upper New York and was met by my old roommate Shauna and her daughter AnnaLisa. We toured upstate NY (Niagra Falls, Canada, Joseph Smith sites, etc.). On the drive home we passed through a little piece of Pennsylvania. I noticed a sign that said "Hope -- 10 miles." I remember thinking at the time, "how cool, we're passing through hope." So that focus is where the title of this blog came from. In hindsight however, I am attracted to the sign again -- Hope, 10 miles. I guess when considering life's circumstances for most of us, Hope really is 10 miles away. We travel the distance, and sometimes are rewarded with the discovery of a new treasure. But just as often, after going the distance, we discover a dusty, undesirable place. In this situation, we become faced with the option of either throwing out hope, or simply chalking it up to experience and try again, another time. Even another time might yeild disappointment, or it may reward us with the hope of our hearts. We never know the outcome before we travel the ten miles to Hope.