The Power of “What If”: A Story of Life Choices and Parallel Paths

Have you ever thought back to a time in your life and wondered, “What if?”

I would like to say that, because I am in my fifties, with decades separating my pivotal life decisions from my current reality, these thoughts are only now at the forefront of my mind. But I can’t, because I have always been aware of the “what if.” I often wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in Spain when I was living there in my late twenties, or what if I had stayed at that job? I know people say “everything happens for a reason,” and I truly try not to live with too many regrets. 

The story of Making It over The Tobin Bridge, my debut book, grew from the memory of a prank my friends played on me in my twenties. A moment that may or may not have changed the entire trajectory of my life. As I reflected on that memory and the circumstances surrounding it, I couldn't get the "what if" out of my head. The situation reminded me of the movie Sliding Doors, the television show Being Erica, and the book The Midnight Library. I enjoyed all three of these stories for their exploration of "what ifs" and the chance to undo regrets. They were my inspiration to take my story in the parallel lives theme. 

I began writing, reimagining my life as if the prank had never happened and my path had taken a different turn. As I developed the narrative, I started writing my actual life alongside it. Parallel lives: one that is mine, and one I will never know. 

It was eye-opening to see how many people currently in my life would not be there if I had taken that other route. This realization made me deeply grateful for the path I actually took. There are experiences I’ve had that likely would never have occurred if the life I was writing had become my reality. As I said earlier, everything happens for a reason. I am not upset about how my life turned out; in fact, it turned out beautifully. I have an amazing life. 

I want to share a few excerpts from my book, Making It Over The Tobin Bridge, and the exploration of “what if”. 

“A wave of melancholy washes over me as I pull out of the driveway. I love my children fiercely, Jamie deeply. But a part of me, a long-dormant part, yearns for something more. What if I had never met Jamie, or we ended up not getting together and going our separate ways? The truth is, a part of me secretly yearns for the woman I might have become. “ 

“ As the train rumbles past and stops, a group of commuters emerges. Men in suits, laptop bags over their shoulders, women in stylish dresses and sneakers juggling purses and other bags. These are the women I thought I would be, the ones who navigate the city, pursue their passions, and build careers. The image of myself as a career woman, independent and ambitious, feels both foreign and strangely alluring. I would be Charly Carlson, not Mrs. Walsh, not just a mother and a wife. A reminder of a path not taken, the person I might have become.” 

“As I gaze at the stars twinkling above, I think about my journey to this point in life. The risks I took, the experiences I have had. I wonder what my life would have been if I had married, especially before I had the opportunity to go to Spain. That was a turning point for me, the moment I realized I could forge my own path, one that was separate from what was expected of me.” 

I will be doing a book signing and reading on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 1 pm - 3 pm at Tapley Memorial Hall in Danvers, MA. 

Link to buy the book.