if only...

we get sensitive when we don't get our way; when someone isn't doing things the way that we would necessarily do them, or have them done. as time goes on we realize that people are not out there, living their lives to impress us. People don't wake up in the morning to make others happy. but wait a second - why not? we cannot fight another person's battles, nor can we take on another person's responsibilities. there is no reason for us to defend another person's faults, or even inquire into another person's affairs. we live our lives for us. how many times have you seen another person intentionally cause pain or endanger someone else? was it for good reason? probably not.
we're in it for ourselves. that's why we see people leaving the scene of accidents and texting while driving and cutting others off. there is no good reason. there is no enjoyment in these things. there is nothing other than one thought and one thought only.
if only we were in it for each other.
practice makes perfect, that's what they say. and since this life is unique to all of us, it too takes practice to make perfect. if we don't appreciate our life it's not anyone's fault. if we don't appreciate our life it may be because we are greedy or ignorant, and sometimes we all are. but we can change this. we can become less greedy and more aware. but it takes practice.
today we are in constant anticipation of the next best thing. iPhone 5 then 5s. iPad then iPad mini. we are no longer expected to commit or devote ourselves to anything because we know that there will be something new around the corner. we don't practice being loyal.
one thing that we can do, however is practice being alive. living and breathing are only the beginning. this is our one shot to take any opportunity that comes our way; any possible experience, and make it our own. there's no way we can control our lives, but we can make them special and memorable if we face them head-on.
we can make them special by avoiding the if only's and the what if's. 
learning about who we are is equally as important about learning how our earth rotates.
but seeking out who we are is far more important than seeking out the table of elements.
once you find yourself you're likely to stop wishing that others were different.
once you find yourself if only shouldn't exist.