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Having it to do all over again.
Jan. 1st, 2007 11:55 pmI was talking with a friend a few days ago about second chances, and given how one's life turns out, would one do it all over again.
That's a good question. Wise folk of history have mentioned that living life with no regrets is the best approach. And no doubt. Being haunted by regret is a pain in the ass, over and above the nagging sense of self-disappointment.
Especially if you regret sitting on that spike.
Here's the thing. There are some things that happen to you that you have no control over. You didn't do it. Elements beyond your control occurred when you did not expect them to. You can't change that. So, how you react and overcome it is key. And when you climb over the obstacle and live to tell the tale, that's something to be proud of. You were tested, you fought, you won. Everyone loves to look back on a good fight when it ends victoriously. Especially if there's opportunities you cherish that you would never have had access to based on the path your life was on before the obstacle presented itself.
And then there's the stuff that happened to you as a result of poor choices. Like investing the family nest egg on a "sure thing" and losing your nest egg along with your hat, your ass, and your spats. This is where regret comes in. The sincere wish that you made another choice. Sure, maybe you're a better person after such an experience, but boy don't you kick yourself for learning the hard way. Like, I really wish I hadn't learned to be a safer driver by not being one in the first place...and wrecking a 20,000 classic car. I'm only glad I didn't learn the lesson in a much harder fashion, such as hitting another person or animal.
In the end, I suppose, the point is moot. You can't do it all over again. The means with which to accomplish that would be very complex, without doubt. If there be a time machine, it's use is not perfected, and if it were, too many people would be going back in time and messing with our reality.
That's a good question. Wise folk of history have mentioned that living life with no regrets is the best approach. And no doubt. Being haunted by regret is a pain in the ass, over and above the nagging sense of self-disappointment.
Especially if you regret sitting on that spike.
Here's the thing. There are some things that happen to you that you have no control over. You didn't do it. Elements beyond your control occurred when you did not expect them to. You can't change that. So, how you react and overcome it is key. And when you climb over the obstacle and live to tell the tale, that's something to be proud of. You were tested, you fought, you won. Everyone loves to look back on a good fight when it ends victoriously. Especially if there's opportunities you cherish that you would never have had access to based on the path your life was on before the obstacle presented itself.
And then there's the stuff that happened to you as a result of poor choices. Like investing the family nest egg on a "sure thing" and losing your nest egg along with your hat, your ass, and your spats. This is where regret comes in. The sincere wish that you made another choice. Sure, maybe you're a better person after such an experience, but boy don't you kick yourself for learning the hard way. Like, I really wish I hadn't learned to be a safer driver by not being one in the first place...and wrecking a 20,000 classic car. I'm only glad I didn't learn the lesson in a much harder fashion, such as hitting another person or animal.
In the end, I suppose, the point is moot. You can't do it all over again. The means with which to accomplish that would be very complex, without doubt. If there be a time machine, it's use is not perfected, and if it were, too many people would be going back in time and messing with our reality.
