Finding Direction in Detours

It all started with Sliding Doors. I remember watching Gwyneth Paltrow’s character race to catch a train, and in one version of the story, she makes it. In the other, she misses it. From that single moment, two completely different lives unfold. One decision. One coincidence. One sliding door.

That movie stayed with me. It planted a seed that’s grown over the years, especially during moments of change, loss, or reflection. Yesterday, I was at Guillermo’s wake, and the “what ifs” came flooding in. What if he hadn’t gone to that job interview? What if he hadn’t been allowed to test drive the Tesla? What if I were still working with all my friends at Avangrid? What if I hadn’t met my husband?

Where would I be? Who would I be?

We all carry these questions. They live quietly in the background of our choices. Sometimes they whisper. Sometimes they roar. They show up in quiet moments, like standing in a kitchen alone, or watching someone you love walk away. They show up in grief, in joy, in the spaces between.

But here’s what I’ve come to believe: what ifs aren’t regrets – they’re reminders. They show us how fragile and beautiful life is. How one moment can change everything. And how every choice we make is a thread in the story we’re weaving.

And that’s why we have to follow our hearts. Not because we’ll always get it right, but because when we do, we can look back without bitterness. We can say, “That was the path I chose – and I’m glad I did.” I want my what ifs to be filled with curiosity, not sorrow. I want them to reflect the courage it took to choose the life I have.

So whether it’s a missed train, a job we didn’t take, or a love we almost overlooked, let’s honor the choices we made. Let’s trust that the version of life we’re living is the one we were meant to shape. And let’s keep walking forward, heart first.

Because in the end, the only what if that truly matters is: What if I hadn’t listened to myself?