Regretfully Yours

I used to regret a lot, like all the time. I regretted doing things and I regretted not doing things. I even had a t-shirt that had ‘Nothing is more painful than regret’ printed on the back. (I was serious about regret.) After years of rumination and hindsight, I regret to inform you, regret is a colossal waste of time.

Life rarely gives us a do-over. And even if we could, would we? I have enough life experience to be able to reflect on the many crossroads I’ve met along my journey to this moment, times when I could have turned left, but I chose to turn right. I will be honest and say I may have reached my destination kicking and screaming, but I have no doubt it was where I belonged.

There were certainly more than a few misguided detours.  There were times I didn’t trust my instincts and times I let fear take the lead. There were times I let others choose the path and I followed behind, regretting every step. Even in those instances, I can now see the benefit of those experiences.

I no longer have room for regret in my life. As Oprah says, “When you know better, you do better.” It may have taken me several do-betters, but in the end, all of those moments and missteps made me who I am today. Flawed and faith-filled, I am who I am.

I would ask what you regret, but ain’t nobody got time for that!