Not quite
Cigars should not be involved
Have you ever noticed how the moments that nearly happen seem to linger longer than the ones that do? The almost text you never sent. The almost kiss in the fading glow of a streetlamp. The almost yes that might’ve rewritten your life. These tiny hesitations, missed chances, and aborted missions—they have a curious way of nesting in the corners of our memory. We often think of “almost” as a failure. A plan that didn’t make it past takeoff. But maybe “almost” is less about falling short and more about being exactly where we needed to be—just not quite yet. There’s a strange power in unfinished moments. The job interview you nearly nailed that led you to a better path. The friendship that could’ve been something more, but taught you how to set boundaries. “Almost” keeps us tender. Alert. It invites introspection: What stopped me? Was I afraid—or wise? Even nature seems to flirt with the idea of almost—sunrises that start before the alarm, rain clouds that threaten but pass, flowers that bud and hesitate. Life doesn’t always tie its ribbons neatly. And maybe that’s its way of reminding us that stories worth living don’t need perfect endings. So today, give yourself permission to honor your almosts. Not as losses, but as signposts. Unfinished pieces of art in a gallery only you can curate. And who knows—some of them may still find their way home.
Take Five
Each week this year, read through the suggestions and see how they call out to you.
- What almost happened today?
- What is lurking undone in your mind?
- What regularly stops you?
- How can you write your own happy ending
- What art is in your gallery?
Come back each day to see if something changes about the effect of an activity. Repeat choices to identify different thoughts. You are not the same person every day. Your life shouldn’t be either.
Live Alive
