What Is Something You’ve Done that You Would like to do Again? (#50): Questions for Children & Adults Alike Series

A friend shared an article from the Huffington Post entitled “50 Eye-Opening Questions to Ask Your Grandchildren.” In reading the piece, I realized it could serve as inspiration for this childless 30-year-old. It would be a good exercise for me… for all of us. So here’s to a new series of questions. I’m going to pick my favorites and share over the coming months. May you also be inspired to reflect deeply on your own answers. 

Question: What is something you’ve done that you would like to do again?

All of it. 

When I first went through the list of questions for this series, I annotated which I’d come back. What I’d like to add. What I thought upon first read. What is something you’ve done that you would like to do again? All of it. 

But not all of it was good. I know that. But didn’t it get me here? Didn’t it change my life?

Of course I’m partial to going back to the good.

On our two year anniversary, my partner and I recreated what was a very long first date. We started at the coffee shop. We walked through the park. We went to the farmer’s market and the holiday fair and got dinner. We walked up to the ever-so-crowded 30 Rock tree. It was beautiful and charming. 

But it wasn’t exactly like the first time. To go back to the real first date, I’d have to tap into that first date energy. I’d remind myself how I told my mom I was getting coffee with someone but it “definitely wasn’t going to lead to anything.” I’d remind myself how when those strangers at the park took a picture for us with sunset and skyline in the distance, it did pop into my mind that this would be a cool picture to have should someday things unfold into love.

Oh there are things I’d go back to. Not to change anything but rather to reassure the younger self that it was, in fact, going to be okay. I’d forgive myself for embarrassing things I’d done when I was heartbroken. Or maybe I’d go back to remind myself what it feels like to be 13-years-old with a crush. 

What would I like to do again? Experience it all without judgment. 

If I were transported back to high school or college or any past experience with my older brain, I hope I would hold empathy. I hope I never forget what it feels like. 

It is this rich array of experiences that has shaped me into the person I am. 

So I wouldn’t change a thing. Because it turns out, I’m pretty proud of this person I’ve become.