“Regrets, I Have a Few”*

Regrets, we all have some.  In thinking about regrets, the question arises as to what is the nature of those regrets?  Are they what you didn’t do or things you did do?  The nature of the regrets must be understood in order to not allow the regrets to hold you back.

Let’s look at the “didn’t do” first

Here is a video of a chalkboard put up on a street in Manhattan.  The chalkboard asked people to stop and write what their regrets were

As you see in the video, most of the regrets were about what they didn’t do and wished they had done.  If that describes you, then what do you do about what you didn’t do?  You can spend time analyzing why you procrastinated, which is just another form of procrastination, or you can start doing!

It’s never too late, better late than never……yada, yada, yada

 “What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” – Ralph Marston

 “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” – Proverb

So finish reading this post and get started!

The “Did Do” regrets

If your regrets are about what you did do, such as something that hurt another, then where possible, sincerely apologize.  Then remembering that you don’t want to hurt another again, promise yourself that you won’t.  That promise includes remembering to always carefully choose your words and actions.

Once you’ve done that, then you can forgive yourself and stop letting the pain of that regret hold you back from continuing to climb your mountain.  With those regrets behind you, you will find yourself  treating people kindly and compassionately more and more, which you won’t regret!

Forgiveness is not only of others, it is also of yourself.

“When you forgive, you in no way change the past — but you sure do change the future”.   —   Bernard Meltzer

If you hold on to the regrets instead of using them as a springboard, you are only adding to your list of regrets.

Heart and Soul

*from “My Way” – Frank Sinatra