From
theatrical_muse: If...
'If' is a little word that shouldn't be used in the past tense. It's useless worrying about what might have been. Not that I followed my own advice on Homeworld when I kept wondering what would have happen if I'd convinced Vila to come with me, or if I'd stayed with him. As I said, that sort of thing is an utter waste of time when you could be improving the life you do have.
However 'if' is a huge and powerful word in the future tense. People in professions like mine need to plan for any possibility: what if your opponent has more weapons than what you can see; what if he or she moves to the left or right; what if someone is lying in wait behind that door?
Ignore one and give the other one a really good workout.