Summer 2026
Turn Back Time, by Ricky C.
This may seem obvious, but there are some things that cannot be undone. I came to this realization quite late in life, last year in fact, when I proceeded to apply a stick-on mount for a shower head in my mother’s bathroom. The adhesive was so sticky that it was virtually impossible to reapply once placed. Of course, without reading the instructions, I confidently placed it upside down (secondary lesson: read the instructions). Fortunately, the mount was functional both right side up and upside down, so no harm, no foul.
This was a lesson learned with very little consequence. But as most of us would agree, many of life’s decisions are very consequential, like deciding on the right college, car, home, spouse, or even the decision to have children. Although I don’t think the idea that our actions have weight should cause us paralysis in the face of big decisions, and I don’t think we need to live in a constant state of guilt for past wrongs, I feel it’s healthy to accept the permanence of certain aspects of our lives. We can’t undo four years of university, can’t undo words spoken to a friend or colleague, can’t undo a crime committed, and we can’t undo the hurt we cause others.
That is not to say that there is no room for reconciliation and restoration in our lives. Society and the natural world are full of examples of restoration, from the reparation of broken relationships to the rejuvenation of a ravaged environment. People who seemed distant and irreconcilable find ways of forgiving and making amends, and the natural world seems to have a supernatural way of healing itself in the face of human mismanagement. However, people tend to think everything can be adjusted, fixed, negotiated, and I think this is where this idea of permanence comes into play–sometimes things are figuratively, and literally, set in stone.
So where does that leave us? I don’t think the point here is to plant fear in those navigating important decisions, but I wanted to underscore the idea that our actions and choices have consequences. If this is the case, it’s probably prudent to act with care, treat people with care, and make decisions thoughtfully, considering how our actions will affect those around us and even our environment as a whole.
