Is There Another Life for Me?

Exploring the Possibilities of Parallel Paths

For a long time, I believed that life had a singular, correct path. That we were meant to make the "right" choices, follow our calling, fulfill our unique potential.  And that straying from this track would somehow derail us from a greater purpose. I saw life as a kind of narrow corridor, where each door needed to be chosen carefully or risk closing off the future we were "meant" to have.

But lately, I've started to question that. What if that idea isn’t true?

What if instead of one correct path, there are many? What if our lives are less like a single-lane road and more like a web of possibilities, each route holding its own kind of beauty, challenge, and meaning?

They say all roads lead to Rome, and maybe that’s not just about geography. Now, I think of that phrase as a metaphor for the idea that there are many ways to reach fulfilment, peace, or joy, not just one. 

And, while we’re at it,  maybe there isn’t one version of ourselves we’re supposed to become.  Perhaps there are a series of potential selves, each one equally real, equally valid, and equally capable of living a full and meaningful life.  I’m reminded of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a wonderful story exploring this idea.  That story tells us that while we may regret past choices, every life has value, and meaning comes from embracing the present rather than searching for a perfect path.

Sometimes I feel like I catch a glimpse of those other lives, the versions of myself that made different choices. The person who stayed. The one who left. The one who said yes. Or no. I find it unsettling, in a way, to know how thin the line is between one life and another. 

But it's also strangely comforting.

Because if there is more than one path that can bring us to joy or purpose, then maybe we can loosen our grip on the need to get it all exactly right. Maybe the pressure to find the one life we're meant to live is misplaced. Maybe, instead, we should focus on being fully present in this version.  Not because it’s the only one that could have been good, but because it’s the one we’re in.

And if we ever find ourselves feeling lost or off-track, maybe that doesn't mean we've failed or missed our shot. It just means it's time to choose again. Another turn. Another fork. Another possible life.

There might be other lives out there that could have also made us happy. But this one still holds endless potential - and maybe that’s all we really need to believe in.