Looking back on my life, I have a LOT of regrets from when I was a teenager. Before I met my husband I decided that I was tired of regrets. They can be very haunting images and feelings. One day I got brave and took a trip by myself to a tennis match I had been dying to see (well... it was a goof around and be silly match). (At the time I was really into tennis and I had a huge crush on both these guys).
I live daily with lots of anxiety so this was a HUGE step for me. I booked my flight, booked my rental car, bought the event ticket... all for ONE. I had a BLAST!!! Spent a ton of $ for not much but in reality it was a HUGE event (for me). This was the first time I had ever done something that I wanted to do without having anyone else there as a crutch.
I can't always afford to do what I really want but I try my best to "live without regrets". Now, if I'm offered an opportunity (no matter how it comes into my life) I ask myself "will I regret this if I do?? Will I regret this if I don't?"
I'm trying to live my life where I get to make the decisions... not my anxiety. There are times when anxiety wins out. It's a choice I make to not be medicated and I have to be willing to accept that there will be times when it wins out over my true desires.
LIVE WITHOUT REGRET!!!!
8 comments:
Good for you! I remember when I was 16 and was introduced to the Amigos program my initial reaction was that it sounded great but would be way out of my comfort zone. Recognizing that my reluctance was groundless I decided to put my name down for more information. Having a "finisher" personality that was almost tantamount to signing up to volunteer, and six months later I found myself in the middle of Ecuador building latrines.
I don't have the same challenges as you, but all of us struggle to break from our comfort zones. But only by breaking out of them can we grow and hope to live without regrets!
Great post.
Who are the tennis guys? When did you go? Good for you!
Living life w/no regrets is hard. I have to remind myself to give myself a little slack.
PJ -
I thought your story about going to Ecuador was exciting (even though you were digging holes for... you know) and it was also scary (from my perspective).
I couldn't have done it. I'm REALLY bad with languages. Yes, I know sign language but I learned that at the same time I learned to speak so it wasn't really a struggle or a choice. (my bro is deaf and only signs to communicate).
Annette -
The guys are Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras (what they looked like in the early 90's - when I took my trip.) Andre now has a shaved head. He also was married to Brooke Shields for a couple of years.
Agassi and Sampras were HUGE rivals in the tennis world for several years. Lots of fun to watch. The event I went to was a fund raiser and they were just goofing around.
There's nothing wrong with having a crush on someone with a shaved head.
DP -
LOL! I'll take a shaved head over Troll Doll anyday Baby!
I do miss having something to grab from time to time. Gotee's aren't quite the same thing.
John Ruben has a great song I love called, "No Regrets" which is found Here. You may want to check it out.
By the way, you can listen to the song right HERE. BTW, I had a student introduce me to this song about 6 years ago. Even after all this time, I still like it.
Teach -
Sounds like he's talking about a pretty tough past. Cool song. Some of the things he says I can relate to. Thanks for sharing.
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