If you’re a fellow lady and you’ve watched the movie Letters to Juliet, then you’ll understand why that’s my favorite movie (even Titanic takes only second place!).  I also bought and read (of course!) the non-fiction book it’s based on:

“Letters to Juliet: Celebrating Shakespeare’s Greatest Heroine,
the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love”
by Lise and Ceil Friedman

Anyway, I swear that it’s ALWAYS my go-to movie whenever I want to feel “in love” at any given time (mostly during weekends), and it doesn’t hurt that it’s set in Italy and stars an Australian actor with a British accent!  HA HA HA

The movie was released in 2010…  so you can say that for the past two years, THIS memorable line has never failed to put a smile on my face and a frown in my heart both at the same time:

“…’What’ and ‘if’ are two words as non-threatening as words can be.  But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if?  What if??  WHAT IF???  I don’t know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it’s never too late.  If it was true then, why wouldn’t it be true now?  You need only the courage to follow your heart.  I don’t know what a love like Juliet‘s feels like: love to leave loved ones for, love to cross oceans for, but I’d like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I’d have the courage to seize it.  And Claire, if you didn’t, I hope one day that you will…”

Beautiful words, aren’t they?  Well lately, the words “what” and “if” have been occupying my mind too.  And today, it truly hit me when I saw these words in the book I’m currently reading (how timely!):

“…I realized the Fates really were cruel…  For the rest of my life I would be thinking about her.  She would always be my biggest what if.”

Except that when it comes to my own story, replace “her” and “she” with “him” and “he.” 😛

But the thing with “what” and “if” is they don’t only apply to love.  They are present in most aspects of our lives.  Or in my life.

What if I said “yes” to that guy from my high school?  What if I realized earlier my love for writing and took up journalism instead?  What if I applied to Ateneo, too?  What if I didn’t become friends with him?  What if I acted differently toward him?  What if I chose the other company instead of my now-former company?  What if I answered this and that during my interview?  What if I didn’t do this?  What if I didn’t say that?

Ugh.  Don’t you just hate THAT feeling?  Of asking yourself questions that start with “what” and “if”? @_@  According to my friend Mr. Longman, “what-if” is a countable noun that is defined as “something that could happen in the future or could have happened in the past.”

Unfortunately for us, most of our what-ifs are the latter.  Am I right?  But if not, well I guess it’s up to each one of us to make sure that our what-ifs are “something that could happen in the future.”  Period.

Wala lang.  I just hope the next time you have to combine the words WHAT and IF, you can finally think differently.  Instead of going crazy, try reminding yourself of WHAT IS or telling yourself of WHAT WILL BE.  At the end of the day, believe that everything happens for a reason.  And that you, my friend, are the author AND editor of your own life.  So gooo, write your own story.  If you prefer a love story, why not?  Just do it. 😉  And just don’t let me write any more words on this post or else our household will run out of cheese!  Mwahahahahaha!

Oh well.  Luckily, Colbie Caillat was able to sum up my “what if” in the love department with just one song!  It’s also a good thing that it’s the theme song of my favorite movie — Letters to Juliet (see introductory paragraph).  Anyway, take the time to click “play,” listen to the song, and read its lyrics…  and again fellow ladies, you’ll know WHY:

“…In my heart is where you’ll be / I’ll keep waiting till we meet…”

How about you?  Care to share your biggest what if in life?

Here’s hoping to turn my what if into what is or what will be,
Mikhaela Georgette ♥♥♥