There’s a moment — usually in a quiet morning or a late-night swirl of thoughts — when I am reminded of a simple phrase from a song I have always loved.
It’s a line from a song many of us know. In the musical Cabaret it’s sung with equal parts longing and grit. The woman singing it has been disappointed more times than she can count and still, something in her says: don’t give up. Not yet.
What gets me every time, isn’t the hope of winning; it’s the willingness to try again.
The song isn’t really about certainty or guarantees. It’s about daring to believe the next attempt could be different, even when experience says otherwise. There’s tenderness in that kind of hope, but there’s courage, too. It takes something real to open yourself again after things haven’t worked before.
At this point in my life, I understand that feeling more deeply than I once did. I know what it’s like to walk back toward something — a dream, a relationship, a project, or even a part of yourself — after a discouraging season and hear that small inner voice say, “Maybe this time.”
Not definitely.
Not promised.
Just… maybe.
And somehow, that’s enough to take the next step.
The older I get, the more I trust the power of that word. Maybe doesn’t demand certainty. It doesn’t insist on results. It simply leaves the door open. And sometimes, an open door is all we need.
Maybe this time the good news will come.
Maybe this time the courage will show up.
Maybe this time the idea will take shape.
Maybe this time love — of any kind — will find room in my life.
Wherever you are today — waiting for answers, starting over, repairing something personal and close, or just trying to believe in yourself again — you’re allowed to whisper those words: “Maybe This Time.”
They don’t promise a miracle, but they keep hope alive. And honestly, sometimes that’s enough.
Here’s a link to a new rendition of that song that I’ve been listening to lately, sung by Orville Peck - He was recently in the Broadway revival of the show in NYC. Don’t let the mask put you off - this guy is talented and has an amazing voice:
I hope you appreciate as much as I do.
Paul
What a Beautiful rendition of this song!! 🎶 I love it 🥰 even more. ❤️
Beautiful reflection on what it means to stay open without needing certainty. The shift from chasing guarantees to just leaving the door cracked is something people usualy learn the hard way. That late night swirl of thoughts you mention is where most of us revisit past attempts and decide whether we're done or willing to lean into "maybe" one more time.