I’ve spent a lot of time this year thinking back on my life. That tends to happen as decades progress.

When we do that our minds start to wonder what if. What if I’d gone to a different school? What if I hadn’t broken my wrist skateboarding when I was only 10? What if I’d gone through with kissing Stephanie behind the swings in the 3rd grade?

What ifs are a paradox. For all we know, if we had, we’d be wondering what if we hadn’t.

It’s much less of a mystery, and well within our control, to consider who we spend our time with. And within reason, to be mindful of how their influence will affect our lives well into the future.

Want to be more active? Surround yourself with friends who like to hike and bike. How about feel more sophisticated? Find a friend who speaks other languages, or friends who call movies films.

We are the average of the people we choose to spend our time with. You have the power to ask yourself, “Is this relationship serving who I’m trying to become?”