When I was graduating from university, I remember my father telling me something that has never left me. It’s even on the main page of my blog: “Never look back on your life and say ‘if only I had.’ Look back and say ‘I did.’”
At the time, I don’t think I fully understood the weight of those words. It felt like advice for some distant future version of myself. But as the years have passed, I’ve realized it was less about the future and more about how I choose to live every single day.
I have carried that sentence with me quietly, almost like a compass. It has shaped how I make decisions, how I take risks, and how I respond to fear. Because the truth is, “if only” is not just a phrase, it is a burden. One that grows heavier the longer you carry it.
I have never liked saying, “If only I had…” Not because I have done everything perfectly, far from it, but because I have always wanted to live in such a way that regret does not get the final word. I would rather try and fail than sit with the quiet ache of wondering what could have been.
Fear is subtle. It doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it whispers: “Wait a little longer… You’re not ready yet… What if it doesn’t work?” And if you listen long enough, those whispers turn into missed opportunities, into moments you let pass, into dreams you quietly put aside.
And then one day, you look back… and the words come: “If only.”
A friend of mine said something recently that stayed with me. She said she was glad we truly lived when we were younger. That we didn’t hold back. That we allowed ourselves to experience life fully, messy, uncertain, beautiful. That reflection struck me. Because not everyone gets to say that.
At this stage of my life, I can honestly say I have never looked back wishing I had done something differently out of fear. That doesn’t mean everything turned out perfectly. It means I showed up. I tried. I stepped forward even when I was unsure. And that makes all the difference. Because “if only” never gives you comfort. It doesn’t soothe or heal. It lingers. It replays. It reminds you of the version of yourself that wanted more but chose safety instead.
So I ask you, are you living in a way that protects you from regret, or creates it? Are you making choices based on who you are… or on what you’re afraid of? Are you saying yes to the things that matter, or are you waiting for the “right time”?
Life has a way of moving forward whether we act or not. The question is not whether time will pass, it will. The question is what you will have to say when you look back.
Will it be “If only…”
Or will it be “I did.”
Choose carefully.
I genuinely want to know your thoughts, and I’m sure others do too. Feel free to comment 👍🏽, but if you’re not comfortable sharing, please reach out to me through any medium. I’d be thrilled if you could share something, anything, and let others know. Your comments help me understand your perspective and often present a completely different view on the topic. They could even inspire another blog. 😉 And you never know how your comment might benefit others. Remember, life is meant to be lived, and you should always strive to live your best life. #lifeisforliving #liveyourbestlife #gratefulforlife #faithgreaterthanfear
See you next Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., Bogotá time.