I often get depressed when I look back upon some of the great times that I had or missed out on, especially during college or while traveling, especially my study abroad semester in Japan.  During these times of depression, it’s easy to forget this simple thing: “You were there.”  I need to remember that I was there, that I did experience those things, and that while they are in the past now—I am not enjoying them now—, I did experience them, I did have that fun and excitement and adventure and all the wonderful experiences.  They are a part of me, will always be a part of me, have shaped who I am.  And we cannot predict “what would have happened if.”  If I would have stayed another month, or traveled more, or did this or did that…we simply don’t know what the outcome would have been, how it could have affected the present.  We simply have to be happy with the present, and if we are not, change that.  We can’t do anything about the past, and we can’t be certain that we would be in a better position in this moment had we only “…”.  Although there is the saying “You will regret what did not do more than what you did do,” a kind of motto for seize the day, we also must realize that we cannot regret what never existed.