What happens next?

Yesterday, I was watching the kid's show 'Arthur' with my son. Arthur is a kid's television show based on the book series by 'Marc Brown' and the 'anthropomorphic' characters are animals with human attributes. Many a times, I watch a 'Mickey Mouse' show with my daughter or an 'Arthur' show with my son. Apart from being a great bonding time with my kids, it also helps me unwind...I find these shows a great stress buster. Sometimes, on 'Arthur' celebrity guest stars appear providing their voice for their animal counterpart. Yesterday's show had writer 'Neil Gaiman'. In the show, he encourages one of the characters, 8 year old 'Sue Ellen' to write her own book. She does that, writes a few chapters (constantly doubting that no one is going to read it or like it) and then, loses the book. While searching for the half written book, she meets 'Neil Gaiman' again who joins her in her search. And they come across her friends, who have found her book, read it, loved it and are wondering 'What happens next?'. 'Neil Gaiman' smiles at 'Sue Ellen' and says...Ah...the three magic words that every writer wants to hear...'What happens next?'


I have found myself asking that very same question many times in life....'What happens next?' I will be walking along the path of life when suddenly the road splits into a fork....two paths....two different destinations.....which one to choose....what happens next? Then starts the process of introspection....weighing pros and cons....with the full realization that while others may influence the decision, the final choice on which path to take will have to be mine.


So, have I wondered how life would have turned out if I had chosen the other path?.....Always. Have I always chosen the right path?.....Always?...No. Have I mostly chosen the right path?....Mostly?....Yes. Do I regret having taken the wrong path?.....Regret?....No. I would like to be that optimist who looks at a half filled glass and sees it as half full instead of the pessimist who finds it half empty. So, no regrets on decisions made after a lot of thought and self examination....just enriched with the experience and the hope of choosing the right path the next time.


Signing off constantly asking myself 'What happens next?' and this quote by Neil Gaiman


'May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you are wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.'