Motivation Mondays: Coulda Woulda Shoulda

“So many roads, so many detours. So many choices, so many mistakes. As we drive along this road called life, occasionally a gal will find herself a little lost. When that happens, I guess she has to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda buckle up, and just keep going. As we speed along this endless road to the destination called ”Who We Hope To Be,” I can’t help but whine, are we there yet?” – Sex & The City

As you may have guessed, I am a huge Sex and the City fan. While the show and its character are fictional, I’ve learned quite a few life lessons from Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbs, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones. From relationship advice to life mantras, the show has provided inspirational quotes and poignant moments that many young woman can identify with. For this week’s Motivation Monday post, I’m sharing one of my favorites with you.

In the episode “Coulda Woulda Shoulda,” each of the leading ladies is at a crossroads in their life. Miranda finds out she is pregnant, Carrie questions a life-changing decision she made twenty years ago while Charlotte struggles to have a baby and Samantha has career issues. Each finds themselves wondering about all the possibilities that could have been if they made different choices. As a young adult and professional, I often find myself second-guessing most decisions I make. I over think and pine over my choices, wondering if I made the right one. Most of the time, I’m more concerned with how my decision will impact my future. There have been times I’ve been so focused on the “what if” that I’ve kept myself awake at night.

You can see Carrie doing the same thing in this episode. She plays through a million scenarios in her head, something I am all to familiar with. As I’ve gotten older, I realized that obsessing over what could have been will only lead to more heartbreak. Within the last year, there have been so many situations that I never could have imagined happening. Some were good, others were terrible but each led me to where I am today; and the place I am at right now is a pretty good one. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, just sometimes you don’t know what that reason is until later on. Instead of worrying about what could have been, we each should celebrate what is happening now. It’s hard to not wonder about all of the “coulda woulda shoulda” moments from the past. But, focusing on the present is the only real way to be happy.

Tagged: Carrie Bradshaw, Decisions, Future, Motivation Mondays, Past, Possibilities, Present, Season 4, Sex and the City