Regrets

I try very, very hard not to live my life with regrets. We are only going in one direction, forward. No amount of begging, pleading or pretending can turn back the hands of time; that much I know is true. As the mantra goes - “In life, we regret the things we didn’t do, more than the things we did.” However, there are some things that I did in my life that I’ve come to feel not so sure about.

I don’t regret them per se. Just feel that my life could have been very different had I chosen an alternative route. Not a better ending just a different one. I suppose that we all have felt that way at one time or another.

Everyone has had regrets. We need to let them go and look forward. What is done is done, now, we can only try to do better.

My life would have been very different had I chosen another path. But nonetheless, my life is still enriched by the decisions I’ve made, the friendships gained and the experiences. My learning journey never stops. Life is full of lessons - the question is whether I choose to learn from them.

My generation was raised to marry and have children. Be a stay at home mother, unless you wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. My family did not encourage me nor did they give me that option. And I sometimes think how my life would have been different had I had that opportunity. I remember to this day, my dad saying to me, " Your graduation present is your room and board paid in full to date. From now on you will pay $10 per week rent." I also remember overhearing my parents say they hoped I would find some one to take me. All my life I worked in low paying jobs, from a cashier to a waitress to baking pizza's in front of a hot oven. But I think I turned out ok. And I know some other people who think so too.

My hope is that I have been able to take those experiences and used them in a positive way. I certainly tried. The greatest joy that I have is seeing my kids happy and the smiles on the faces of my grandchildren. It gives me strength! Come on tomorrow! I'm ready!