There’s a certain kind of magic in the “almosts,” the “maybes,” and the “what-ifs.” They don’t come with a final chapter or a neat, tidy conclusion — they linger in the air, unresolved, and yet somehow more memorable for their very uncertainty. They are the moments that never quite reached their destination but are unforgettable in their own way. This Friday, I’m diving into the world of these incomplete stories, exploring the six almosts that didn’t quite become something — but in their imperfection, hold a beauty all their own.
Each almost, each maybe, and each what-if has its own story to tell. And though none of these stories have endings, they carry with them the weight of possibility, of potential, and of the roads we didn’t take.
1. The Almost-Relationship
It was there — right there, on the cusp of something real. The way your smile lingered a little longer than usual, the way our conversations flowed without effort. We were so close to it, so close to crossing the line from friends to something more. But we never did. Maybe it was fear, or timing, or the quiet understanding that some connections are meant to stay just as they are — perfect in their imperfection.
The almost-relationship is a delicate thing. It’s the person you never quite get to call yours, yet you carry the memory of them with you forever. There’s an ache, but also a certain sweetness in the almost. It’s the story of what could have been, of the road not traveled. And yet, it remains a beautiful “almost,” something that could have turned into love but didn’t — and in that not-quite, something uniquely special remains.
2. The Maybe-Career
I could have gone down that path. I could have said yes to the offer, packed up my life, and taken the plunge into that dream career. I could have been the person I thought I was meant to be, living the life I imagined. But instead, I hesitated, doubted, and let the fear of the unknown hold me back. Maybe I wasn’t ready. Maybe it wasn’t the right time.
The maybe-career is the one that haunts your “what if” moments. It’s the job, the opportunity, the chance you never took. You wonder where it would have led, how your life would have been different, if you had said yes. Yet, the maybe still has value. It’s the dream that keeps you awake at night, the plan that never quite formed, but still flickers in the back of your mind. Sometimes the “maybe” is the very thing that keeps you striving, motivating you to create your own path rather than following someone else’s.
3. The What-If-Love
There’s that one person, isn’t there? The one who slipped through your fingers, the one who almost became the love story of your life but didn’t. Maybe they were a summer fling, a brief yet intense connection that seemed to promise so much, but for whatever reason, didn’t turn into a forever. Or maybe it was the one who was always there, just out of reach, never quite lining up with your timing.
What if we had given it a shot? What if we had worked through the challenges, the distance, the timing? Would we have ended up together, or would we still be at the starting line, wondering “what if”? The beauty of the what-if love is that it leaves room for imagination, for possibility. It’s a love that lives in the spaces between the almost and the never, a story with no ending, just an open door.
4. The Almost-Adventure
There are those moments in life when you stand at the edge, looking out at the world with excitement and fear mixed together. The almost-adventure is the trip you almost took, the road you almost traveled, the city you almost moved to. It was all planned out, tickets bought, bags packed — and then, life got in the way.
Maybe it was fear of the unknown. Maybe it was responsibility. Maybe it was the practical side of you that couldn’t justify it. But that almost-adventure still calls to you. It’s the trip that never happened but always lingers in your heart. It’s the adventure that was meant to shape you, teach you, and make you feel alive — but instead, it’s the story you tell over coffee, imagining what could have been.
5. The Maybe-Friendship
Sometimes friendships come close to something deeper, something more. There’s a bond, a connection that could have turned into something truly meaningful, but for one reason or another, it didn’t. Maybe it was the timing, the circumstances, or the distance — or maybe it’s just one of those relationships that was never meant to be anything more than what it was.
The maybe-friendship is a bittersweet one. It’s the one that could have turned into a lifelong connection but didn’t quite make it. Yet, there’s still something valuable in it — the shared laughter, the inside jokes, the moments that made you feel understood. Maybe it wasn’t a forever friendship, but it was a moment in time that shaped you. And sometimes, that’s enough.
6. The What-If-Future
And then, there’s the what-if future. The dreams and plans you had in mind for yourself — the career, the house, the life. The things you pictured yourself doing, the path you thought you’d walk. What if you had followed a different dream? What if you had made different choices, taken different risks? What if the road you’re on isn’t the one you were meant to be on?
The what-if future is the one that teases your imagination. It’s the endless possibilities of who you could have become. But it’s also a reminder that life doesn’t follow a script. The what-if future might not be the one you planned, but it’s the one you’re living. And maybe, just maybe, it’s exactly where you’re meant to be.
Conclusion: Everything But the Ending 🍒
Each of these almosts, maybes, and what-ifs represents a chapter of possibility — stories that could have been, paths that might have been taken, and loves that could have blossomed. But the beauty of these stories is that they don’t have endings. They linger in the “what could have been” and the “maybe next time.”
This Friday, as we reflect on the almosts and maybes in our own lives, let’s remember that they’re not failures. They’re not regrets. They’re the moments that keep us open to the possibilities of the future, the things we didn’t choose but will always wonder about. The endings don’t define us — the moments do. And sometimes, the stories we don’t finish are the ones that stay with us the longest.
🍒 This Friday, let’s celebrate everything but the ending. The almosts, the maybes, and the what-ifs. They’re the heart of the journey, the magic in between, and the beautiful reminder that life is never just about the destination.
