This is a true story of two friends who met when they were five years old. They had similar interests, aptitudes and even home lives, for they both came from similar immigrant families. As they graduated high school, they even went into the same field and attended the same college.
But this is where their paths diverged.
One felt unhappy with the path he was on and sought fulfillment elsewhere. He took off from home and decided that he would say yes to any adventure that came his way, becoming a missionary, a student of philosophy and theology, a professional magician, teacher, writer and chaplain. Feeling the need to sow his wild oats, he met someone he loved, got married and started a familiy.
The other felt committed to a singular goal of staying put and creating happiness around him. He struggled for a few years to find steady work, but then landed an opportunity that finally secured his future. He built incredible financial independence, a home full of comforts, met someone he loved and decided kids would not be in their future. From the outside, it appears to be a fortress of solitude, but the inside is the fulfilment of a life dream.
The two remained friends the entire time and both came to the same realization around the same time as they reflected on their paths. They both realized, as they looked to the other, there was something to love about what they did, and there was something to envy about what the other did. But they both ended up happy and continue to push each other for even greater joy in their lives, closing the small gaps of malcontent that still remain.
Neither of them regrets their decision.
To live with regret is to romanticize the path of a decision that wasn’t made.
And no matter what path is finally decided upon, it’s the only one to find fulfilment in.