Regret

All of you reading this have regrets. You have regrets about the years you wasted trying to be a big shot in a business only to be let go. You have regrets because you yelled at your children only to find out they really did their best. You regret no apologizing when you realized what you had done. You regret not using your gym membership and the extra dessert you had last night. You regret not visiting the hospital before your grandfather died. You regret the addiction that has it's grabbing fingers so deep in your life. You regret your pride and selfishness.

You even regret the fact that you have regrets.

I know. We take our regrets and wrap them in layers of denial. Deny that we even live a life that has regrets. We choose our words to put distance between anyone who might be looking and the regrets we have. I don't think I can bear you seeing me for who I am and you don't think you can bear me seeing you either.

Do you see what is going on? You hide because everyone you see is doing so much better than you, the real you, but the person you are seeing is hidden as well. It is a game of hide and seek where nobody is looking, but we need to be found.

Regrets are not the problem. It is hiding those regrets that is the problem. "Live a life with no regrets" is a foolish philosophy, which only leads you to the sad realization you can't do that.

Regret is good. Regret is embracing the mistakes you have made, not to justify them, but to look them full in the face so you can begin to change. Share your regrets is good. It is not about flaunting your misdeeds, but letting others see you are not perfect, that you need help and you can understand why they need help to.

I regret the time I have spent looking unmoved by my own regrets. Don't feel bad, this is a good thing. Looking this regret full in the face and seeing it for what it is today, is the medicine I need to let you see my regrets and how they move me tomorrow.