Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I had been born somewhere else.
If my parents were different.
If I’d been born in a different country.
WIth different opportunities.
With different neighbours.
What if I had been the child who was walking home from school who was abducted?
What might have happened if I’d been born into a wealthier family?
Or a poorer family.
What if I’d lived so remotely that I’d had no opportunity to go to school.
Or if I’d had to get married at twelve.
Or I’d been born into royalty.
Or I’d been a different colour.
Or HIV positive at birth.
The list of what if’s always makes me notice how much where a child is born, to whom, when and why has such a massive influence on the circumstances and chances of his or her life.
Of my life.
Random chance should never be a moderator for basic human rights and yet it is. I have had some control over what I have done with the hand life dealt me but I had absolutely no say in how that ‘hand’ was configured in the first place. Nobody does.
Have you every wondered why might have been if you’d been dealt a different hand – for better or worse?
There isn’t much we can do about the randomness of it all, but we can, at least, attempt to level the playing field.
An interesting thought – taking that one step further I wonder what life would be like if I had been born a man 😉
I often wonder that as well – it’s a very interesting question.
And I now wonder what it would have been like if I was the oldest child instead of the youngest? Would it have changed the dynamics in my own life or family? My two older siblings where born when Mom was younger and inexperienced, by the time she had me she was already in her 40’s. I believe everything is meant to be in the pattern of life, meaning the family we are born into, the childhood we experience, but the choices we make is where I find more freedom in. Just my thoughts.
Well of course you are right – we do make choices as well, but those are interesting questions about your family. Place in the family does seem to have a significant effect. I am the eldest and even though there are ways I was treated as a result that I feel are a mistake, I think I ended up making versions of the same mistakes with my own eldest child. It’s all a bit of a mystery, isn’t it?
When I was much younger, I used to dream I would go to sleep, and when I would wake up I would have been born into a different life … of course, I would wake up to find myself in the same life, and each time I think it crushed my spirit a little bit more, until I quit dreaming that dream.
I still find it hard to imagine growing up in a different life, and although there are parts of this life I wouldn’t mind trading away, there are also parts that I wouldn’t dare wish to let go of, so I guess in the long run, it all happened in just the way it was intended. But still, yes, sometimes, I wonder.
Such a sad time for you but there is a way we are also the sum of all our experiences etc and a way in which they help us become who we are – and that is important too. I don’t know if I believe it’s intended as such, but it’s true and that’s important.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Yes there for the grace of the creator go I.. .. life is like that.. a lottery.. Im told we chose where we are born even our parents so as we can achieve our lessons in life… I am thankfor for my own path, so some have chosen Harsh lessons.. Wishing you a great week ahead.. Sue Dreamwalker xx
Exactly. I don’t know if we choose our ‘lot’ – maybe we do, I’m just not convinced of it – but I am often grateful – a lot of people suffer enormously, which always puts my suffering into perspective at least. Thanks – you too. x
Yes,we certainly CAN work to level the playing field! WE MUST JOIN TOGETHER! TED in Long Beach this year was so great at promoting this and supplying so many amazing vehicles to use as tools in this purpose.
The playing field must necessarily have an impact as you said – glad to hear about TED in Long Beach.