Today is Day 11 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at “Two Writing Teachers”.
I am using Encyclopedia of Me; My Life from A to Z, a guided journal created by Amy Krause Rosenthal.
R is for Regret
Regret is one of the most common negative emotions. As I look back on my life today, this my Dad’s birthday, I can’t help but wish some things had turned out differently. I know it is useless to dwell on the past but some regrets have persisted and I still regret some actions I didn’t take.
I regret not telling my Dad I loved him before he died. The last Sunday I saw him, I was angry with him and went to bed without speaking to him or hugging him. He died the next day.
I regret not leaving my abusive first marriage much sooner. I can’t regret the marriage – it gave me two wonderful children.
I regret not feeling positive about myself for so many years – always feeling not good enough; of being on the outside, looking in.
I regret not staying in touch with my oldest son’s birth father, so that there could have been a relationship. At least now he is reaching out to him.
Some wise words about regret:
I‘d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. Lucille Ball
At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent. Barbara Bush
You can never regret anything you do in life. You kind of have to learn the lesson from whatever the experience is and take it with you on your journey forward. Aubrey O’Day
I never regret anything. Because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end. Drew Barrymore
Beverley A Baird 
Your title grabbed me for the very reason you stated- regret is a very powerful, intimate emotion that everyone has some experience with. I appreciate your vulnerability and openness to sharing some difficult things.
Regret is a powerful word with so many meanings and implications. We all have regrets and thoughts about how we might have done things differently. I appreciate your honesty and love that you ended with some powerful thoughts about the concept of regret!
Thanks Anita. It actually helped to write them out and admit them to myself
Thanks Stephanie. Sometimes writing about them, exposing them, lessens their power.
We all have regrets. Some big and some small. We can dwell on them but that does no one any good. I like that you name yours, Bev. This breaks their power and hold over you and lets you move on.
Thanks once again for your wise words and support
Regret is a great motivator for me. Rather, not wanting to regret missing out on something, or not wanting to regret that I did fine thing both help me make decisions when the decision feels hard.
Thanks Lisa. Love your attitude.