Sunday, January 29, 2012

Regret: Friend or Foe?

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

-Mark Twain




I have long loved this quote.  I always thought it was a very nice idea.  I pictured myself leaning on the railing of a boat going out to sea, my hair blowing in the wind, and the excitement of a new adventure racing through my body.  I took this as a call to explore the world, to go backpacking through Europe, hiking and camping in the Himalayas and sandboard down the dunes of the Sahara.  I still want to do all of those things but I think this can have a much narrower application to my life with a much greater impact.

There are many simple opportunities that I have pasted up on in my life.  I regret the things I haven't done.  Not asking that girl out, not trying that activity, not signing up for that class.  I am done with not doing things I want because I am scared or because I am safe in the harbor.  I have been playing it safe for far too long, it's now my turn.  I can't live a life of regrets, no one can.  

I can't be passive and expect to get what I want.  The times I have been happiest in my life are when I have worked hard and put myself out there for something I wanted.  It may not have always worked out but I at least I know that I tired.  I never want the feeling that I lost something because I didn't try for it again.  

 

John Steinbeck said, "Nothing good gets away".  But is that really true?  I feel that because of my inaction good things have gotten away from me.  I have lost opportunities that I regret.  But that doesn't need to be a bad thing.  Regrets can be good.  I want to learn from my regrets.  I believe God gave us regrets so we don't repeat the same mistakes over again.  

 

What am I going to do today so I have no regrets tomorrow?  

 

 

1 comment:

  1. Wow I love that quote! You're blog is wonderful. It looks like you are having fun and enjoying your life. Good for you! :-)

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