It is kind of funny and ironic that I am starting my blog on the day of my wedding anniversary and it is all about regrets. My wife is the perfect match for me and of all the decisions I have made over the years this is not something I regret. Darius Rucker's song "This" always hits home pretty hard for me. "Thank god for all I missed Cause it led me here to this."
I love my wife, my family, my coworkers, my firends, my job, and basically everything about where I am today. There are things I'd change instantly if I could. I could be skinnier, stronger, smarter, richer, but then would I be here at this point right now? Maybe if I went back and fixed all my regrets my pathway would not be as good as it is now. So what's the point in regretting the past?
When things aren't going well there is another quote I think about, "that which does not kill you only makes you stronger". There is a reason for every twist and turn of life's journey and we might as well enjoy it instead of regretting everything we do. You never know when that difficult part of the journey is going to place you smack dab in the middle of something great. Learn from your mistakes and move on!
The main part of today's wisdom comes from a great resource. If you are a husband or a father I say go right now and subscribe to allprodad's Play of the day. It is a great quick hitter that gives advice on being a husband and a father everyday. It is cool that it hits my inbox everyday right before lunch. One of the recent play of the day's was a great article on how to Minimize Regrets. Thanks to All-Pro Dad for the info below.
10 Ways to Minimize Your Regrets at the End of Your Life
If we had to quantify it, probably 80% of what is considered important right now will mean absolutely nothing at the end of your life. What are the things that dominate your worries and thoughts? The mortgage and car payments? Job performance and promotion? Hey, it’s important to take those things seriously because that’s the way our world functions. However, nobody lies on their death bed thanking God that he made all his mortgage payments on time. What about the remaining 20% of what you consider important in your life? Those are the moments that will become your legacy…the moments that define you. Here are some thoughts to help you live a life without regret.
1. Family First
Possibly the most common regret at the end of a life is, “I didn’t spend enough time with my family.” When we’re young, we are so eager to start our grown-up lives that we neglect our parents. When we’re adults in the midst of building the life we imagined, we neglect our wife and kids. What’s left at the end of that life is a sad and lonely person. Your family comes first—always. Cherish your wife. Never stop earning her love and devotion. Adore your children and spend every second you can with them.
2. Faith
Life has a far greater purpose beyond our human knowledge. “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Faith gives you the inner peace in knowing that all is not in vain. Your life matters greatly. Our time on earth is but a blink of the eye in comparison to eternity. Faith in something greater than you = zero regret.
3. Color Outside The Lines
As soon as our life begins, society creates boxes within which we’re supposed to live. Order is certainly vital to a prosperous people. There are lines a decent human being should never cross. On the other hand, there are times when you HAVE to cross some cultural lines if joy is to ever going to find its way into our hearts. Dare to color your life outside of pre-determined boxes. Step out of comfort zones. As the saying goes, dance as if nobody is looking.
4. The Power Of Vision
The big picture. Our actions always have consequences, and those can be both positive and negative. A wise man has the ability to visualize outcomes before they occur. Never make decisions from a self-centered perspective. They will often grant you short-term gain, but create long-term damage to you and everyone around you. Always hedge your bets towards what is the wise thing to do. You will have much fewer regrets.
5. Use Your Gifts
Every human being has a unique set of gifts designed to complement and enhance this creation. Sadly, many people never realize what makes them special. Your abilities might bring you wealth, or it’s possible that they’ll never earn you a single dime. Either way, that isn’t the point. The point is to use your gifts to the best of your ability and in the way that they were created. Nurture and aggressively display the gifts that have been loaned to you for the course of your life. Use them to bring glory to the One who gave them to you.
6. Loose Lips Sink Ships
We all have those memories that make us cringe. The times we lost control and our mouths spewed out venom we didn’t know we possessed. When spoken in haste and anger, the words we use have the potential to create heartache and damage. Hasn’t it happened to you? Learn from the horrible memory living within you. Hold your tongue and think before you speak. Do your best to redeem yourself with those you have hurt in the past. Your soul will rest much easier at night.
7. Take Care Of Yourself
We often take our health for granted. It usually takes a major scare to open us up to a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes the warning never comes. We’ve all got that friend or family member that shocked us by dying too soon. No one is guaranteed to live to a ripe old age. However we can help ourselves by taking care of our bodies and minds. Commonsense and moderation are usually the keys to successful physical and mental health.
8. The Bucket List
We all have dreams and aspirations. Create a list of the things you wish to accomplish in this life. Some will be easy and some difficult, but none are impossible. Document these moments and live every second of them to the fullest.
9. Random Kindness
When we spread joy our souls glow bright and beautiful. Our spiritual well-being is critical to peace in our heart. Stand up for the person who stands alone. Offer a smile to the person who only faces scorn. Extend a helping hand to the person who has only been shoved down. Who will God send? Every single day say “God, send me.”
10. Forgiveness
Release the hurt that lies within you. Grudges you continue to carry will only leave you jaded and loaded with bitterness. This type of person is no longer able to see the good in the world. Joy escapes them. Forgive those who have hurt you and let that pain go. Seek forgiveness from those you’ve wronged. In the end, life boils down to forgiveness. Nothing else matters.
Enjoy and see you next week!
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