July 2: Writing Prompt #183-The Road Less Traveled

Pinpoint a moment in your past where you had to make a big decision. Write about that other alternate life that could have unfolded.

Oh my! At my age, there are so many moments that come to mind from my past when I had to make a big decision, and I have often thought about how my life might be different if I had chosen another path in those moments.   Certainly, the most life altering decision I’ve ever made was to get married and move to Kwajalein at the very young age of 22.  I don’t know if I ever would have had the opportunity to live on Kwajalein without knowing my ex-husband. And if I hadn’t met and married him, who knows if today I would have children at all or if I might have a pasel of girls instead of 2 boys.  I certainly don’t know how I would have ever met the love of my life, my NW native husband, nor would I have ever fallen so deeply in love with the Pacific NW because I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know this part of the country so well before deciding to move here. Even in terms of a career, Kwaj had its influence. I had decided NOT to be a teacher purposely before moving to the island. I wanted to write, but not teach writing.  I felt I was too shy and introverted for it, and frankly, I was very nervous to try it when offered a developmental English teaching position at the local satellite campus of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) on Guegeegue, but I took it, none the less, and fell in love with the profession in a way I never would have imagined for myself.  Writing and publishing books with my children and with the Marshallese 5^th grade students, being a part of 4-H as an adult volunteer and teacher, becoming a scuba diver and exploring the wonders of one of the most beautiful oceans in the world, and traveling to several other countries are just a few of the things that resulted directly from my decision to leave my home state. There are so many, many things that my “alternate life” would not have included if I hadn’t made that ONE decision to marry and move overseas.  I’m sure whatever direction I chose to take back then, it would have still had many, many blessings and wonderful experiences, but I wouldn’t change the course of my life for the world.  Even though I don’t truly know what I may be missing and really couldn’t guess at it because I never would have guessed the details of my life today, I can’t imagine it being any better than what I have now…Blessed and content to be right where I am!