I think we’ve
all had one or two along the way.
Sometimes it’s That One Regret that replays over and over in a
continuous loop. Perhaps it’s That One
Regret that we lose sleep over, causes us to worry and doubt. Funny thing about Regrets- they do cause
worry and doubt and loss of sleep.
I think Regrets
can be broken down into two groups.
There is That
One Regret when we do or say something that hurts or harms. That One Regret that causes another pain or
sorrow. That One Regret is because we
acted in a way that goes against the heart and soul of our being.
Sometimes these
Regrets occur because we don’t think. It
happens to us . . . all of us . . . from time to time. “Shooting From the Hip” I think they call
it. Not a lot of thought or
consideration, just action. It’s a
mistake on our part that, hopefully, we try to rectify, and it’s a mistake that
occurs because we’re human and less than perfect.
Unfortunately,
there are Regrets of intention.
Sometimes we aim to hurt, to lash out, to cause pain.
To me, these
kinds of Regrets are not a mistake at all.
These Regrets are purposeful and calculated, and just plain wrong. As hard as we might try, these Regrets last a
long, long time. Perhaps lifetimes-
yours and the person who was wronged.
The old adage, “I may forgive, but I don’t forget” comes to mind. And sometimes, these kinds of Regrets aren’t
very forgivable.
Then there is
That One Regret that is a lost opportunity.
The Regret where we could have said or done something. The Regret where we should have said or done
something. But we didn’t.
Happens to all
of us at one time or another. We are,
after all, human, right?
Too busy. Not enough time. Don’t know what to say. Don’t know what to do. Perhaps too much of an effort. Wanting to argue and make a point instead of
listening. And just like the Regrets of
Intention, the Regrets of Opportunity hurt us . . . and they hurt the one we
could have helped.
The difference
between the two types of Regret is that the Regret of Intention is a choice to
hurt or harm, and perhaps we don’t care that we hurt or harmed. Whereas anyone with a soul or a heart or a conscience
recognizes the Regret of Opportunities precisely because we are human- we have
a soul and a heart and a conscience. And
this lost opportunity truly does hurt us as much, perhaps more, than the other
person.
And, I think it’s
these Regrets of Opportunity that cause us to “should on ourselves” and cause
us to lose sleep, and cause us to worry.
These Regrets of Opportunity cause us, hopefully, to resolve to do
better next time, to make it up to the individual somehow, someway. If we have a heart, and a soul, and a
conscience in good working order, we do resolve to do better next time. Don’t we?
Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
If you like thriller/mystery fiction, and are looking for a series with action and with characters that have heart, check out my Lives Trilogy. Here is the
series with current kindle pricing, and all are free on Kindle Unlimited.
Book #1: Stolen
Lives $3.99
Book #2:
Shattered Lives $5.99
Prequel to the
Lives Trilogy: Taking Lives $.99
