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What I Learned When I Tried Turning Back Time

/26 Comments/in , , /by Mary Hunt

Ever catch yourself wishing you could turn back time? Maybe to fix a choice, skip a regret, or just do one thing differently? I’ve thought about it more than I’d like to admit. Funny thing is, the more I think about it, the more I realize that the tangled, imperfect path we’ve walked is exactly what makes our story ours. Sometimes a little reflection is all it takes to see the beauty in it.

sprinkler timer turn back time flowers in background green grass

Yesterday I turned back time. Really! I reset my lawn sprinkler timer, which was more than an hour off. It was surreal to watch the numbers go backward—so much so that when I reached the desired time, I didn’t stop. I let it go back a full 24 hours, one hour at a time.

As the numbers counted backward, I let my mind wander. If I could, would I want to re-live the time that has passed? Would I want to put my life on rewind?

Why We Dream About Turning Back Time

We’ve all belted out Cher at least once, right? “If I could turn back time…” There’s something irresistible about imagining a do-over. It taps into a universal itch: the wish to revisit moments, big or small, and maybe, just maybe, get it right.

Some want to relive the good times they didn’t fully appreciate, others hope to right personal wrongs, and a few dream of using their future knowledge to make a little cash… or a lot. Whether it’s a childhood memory or a lost romance, the urge to rewind isn’t just nostalgia. It’s curiosity, longing, and yes, a pinch of regret.

Time travel may not be real (yet), but the wish to peek into our past reveals something about us: we want to learn from the roads we’ve walked, enjoy the moments we can, and, if we’re lucky, laugh at ourselves along the way.

Re-think, Re-do, Re-live?

At first, the idea was exhilarating. Another shot at all those credit card offers that nearly sank me. Another chance to apply everything I know now to my younger self. Surely that would have changed everything.

But the more I imagined it, the more I realized I’d probably just get stuck. If I couldn’t do things perfectly the first time around, would I get it right the second time? Or would I want a third, fourth, or even fifth try? Knowing me, I’d spiral into an endless loop of trying to get it right.

As frustrating as my past mistakes have been, they’ve shaped the life I have now. Even the boneheaded choices, the missteps, the moments I wish I could erase. They’re all part of the pattern. A messy, imperfect, uniquely mine tapestry.

And here’s the thing: recognizing that pattern doesn’t just offer perspective. It makes you appreciate the detours, the surprises, and yes, even the stumbles that got you here.

The Tapestry of Life

Life is a lot like a tapestry. Up close, the back looks messy… knots, tangled threads, mistakes hidden in plain sight. But flip it over, and you see how all those imperfect pieces weave together into something unexpectedly beautiful.

That’s how I think about redemption. Years ago, I ran up a debt that felt impossible to pay off. Dollar by dollar, step by step, I reclaimed control. When that last payment went through, it wasn’t just money repaid. It was freedom, independence, and the satisfaction of having built something lasting from the chaos.

The lesson isn’t just about debt, though. It’s about life itself: we can’t erase the missteps or skip the knots, but we can honor the process. Every miscalculation, detour, and stumble is part of the pattern, shaping a story that’s uniquely ours and one that’s richer for the lessons learned along the way.

Back to reality

I finally got the sprinkler’s clock set correctly. With a deep breath, I shut the little door and stepped away, back in real time. A fresh, unspoiled 24 hours stretched ahead, waiting for me to make choices that matter.

Turns out, we don’t need a time machine to start over. Every morning gives us a clean slate, a chance to make wiser decisions, savor the little joys, and shape our day with intention. Whether you’re recalibrating finances, nurturing relationships, or simply carving out time for yourself, the opportunity is always there.

So today, make it count. Fill it with moments you’ll look back on with a smile, decisions you’ll be proud of, and enough laughter to remind you that life—messy, imperfect, and uniquely yours—is worth every single hour.

 

Question: If you could turn back time for just one choice, would you? Why or why not? Share in the comments below.

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26 replies
  1. Ann says:

    I just read this in 2025 and the thought of a redo has been on my mind as I’ve gotten older. Even though I could have done much better, I wouldn’t want to go back. I feel very blessed to be here today and to have come out of some dark times. So, I thank God every day and try to live in the present. I really appreciate your posts, Mary. Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Janie says:

    I dont think I would change a thing. Although there were bad times, there were so many good times too. I have to take the bad to keep the good.

    Reply
  3. Cate says:

    Truly enjoyed this column. Thank you. At the All Souls Day Mass this evening, Father used the same tapestry analogy LOL. The redo aspect of your piece made me think of the “Choose Your Own Ending” books, which my kids loved! That’d be such fun to see my life in that guise.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth says:

    I was married to a mentally il
    man ,had 4 children and in the70s women didn’t have credit . I supported my family by taking in ironing,cleaning neighbors houses, upholstering furniture,so I could be home with my children and be able to feed them. We ate a lot of hamburger,oat meal,and even spaghetti with tuna .I used salvation army for needs I couldn’t find on trash days.we knew when to check areas that had good things we could remake or salvage for our use. My kids were my reason to overcome and faith and a sence of humor helped. We didn’t get any f inancial help but learned that we had skills or just guts to try and survive My husband was physical abusI’ve and destroyed everything ,when he left. We didn’t know what steak was or travel or vacation but my kids excelled in school sports and grades. They earned scholarships to college. They worked after school and through summers to pay for what I couldn’t give them. They were able to overcome life’s many challages later because they used our earlier years as learning experiences rather then excuses to complain or blame.,or do bad. I’m in my 80s ,my body is rickety due to the accident I was married to, my children are absolutely awesome . I still am very frugal . God gave me ways to overcome and I count my blessings every night .Its amazing what you can learn about yourself and what talents are hidden inside. Believe
    .

    Reply
  5. Chris says:

    It was a wonderful day when I discovered your column. You have truly been a blessing to me. Although I haven’t experienced a lot of debt in my life I too have carried a different kind of load. Married young and had three children. A kid raising kids. A challenge I shall never forget. Now l find myself an older widowed woman. I have a lot of faith and will use my brain and brawn to see me through.

    Reply
  6. Christine says:

    Mary – I would like to challenge you to reduce your water use. Your article about not using paper towels by using the power of scarcity, could be applied to irrigation systems. Whereas each of us collectively contribute to global warming, every little bit helps.

    Reply
  7. Sandy Johnson says:

    Thank you Mary!! This post was such a revelation for me. I have made some horrific money decisions, and I carry the guilt with me every single day even though I am in a good place now, financially. Reading this helped me realize I must let it go!!!!!

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      So happy to know this resonated with you! I’ll bet yours is a very beautiful tapestry—a testament to God’s grace and daily beginnings.

      Reply
  8. Sandra C Wegmann says:

    My mother (who had been married three times and had a checkered past) used to say “Never look so far forward that you cannot see how far you’ve come”…..

    Reply
  9. Lynn says:

    That’s what I like about you. You are so real and honest. That’s why I have followed your books, columns and now website since 1998. Thank you. I will now look at each day as a “clean slate”.

    Reply
  10. Jean Marshall says:

    Well, said. I feel grateful each morning for a new day before me. I feel hopeful that I can do better. I like the scripture “This the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad.” Psalms 118:24. And I have it framed in my bedroom. My mother always had a Kahlil Gibran quote framed on the wall, and I do too–“Awake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.”
    Good reminders.
    JM

    Reply
  11. Annie says:

    My husband and I have often talked about re-do’s on life. Looking at our past there are two many memories we might not get on a re-do. Life is life and time marches on. All of my mistakes made me stronger even the ones that sometimes make me whince and cringe.
    Your blog is worthwhile and I am glad to read it daily.

    Reply
  12. Linda Radosevich says:

    Thank you, Mary, for sharing your goofs and the insights you learned. If we didn’t make those mistakes, we wouldn’t be who we are today. ‘Everything has a purpose under Heaven.’

    Reply
  15. Kay Jones says:

    You have been so open and honest about your experiences. You have helped countless of us get out of our messes or learned from you to avoid the financial problems you had. You have been a great role model and should be very proud of that.

    Reply
  17. BEB says:

    Hi Mary: I just received a Eufy robo vacuum cleaner as a gift. Are these machines meant to replace upright vacuum cleaners? Mine does a good job, but I wonder how does it compare to an upright.

    Thanks for your help.

    Reply
  18. Kathy Linklater says:

    Mary–If you didn’t “mess up” your life financially many years ago, where would the rest of us be? You have made a HUGE impact on so many people’s financial life. I have followed you for YEARS. I love all your recommendations for products and all the tips. Keep it up!

    Reply
  20. Laurel says:

    What a truly inspiring way to start a new week, Mary! I am at an age at which I have too frequently found myself wishing for redos of all kinds covering several decades – how much “better things would have turned out if only…” However, I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion, and I know that I, too, am indeed just where I should be with lots of lessons learned along the way. I truly appreciate your positive approach to everything you share with us, Mary, certainly including this poignant reminder that I fully intend to keep front of mind for the duration – thanks so much!

    Reply
  21. Karen says:

    Beautifully said!! I love mornings and the possibilities a new day brings. Your article made me think of a quote from Anne of Green Gables-
    “Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

    Reply

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