Let Go of Regret and Don't Let Your Wants Go Undeclared

There is one line in the movie The Notebook that always strikes a chord with me because of its prevailing simplicity... 

“Forget what everyone else wants. What do you want?”

It's a shame so many of us never have the courage to admit that to ourselves, let alone anyone else.

Most of us are taught about the ills of selfishness, but I think it's okay to be self-seeking at certain times in our lives, especially if what we say and do will affect others.

It's pretty astounding when you think of how one action or inaction can create such a ripple effect that lasts for years, sometimes an entire lifetime.

For example, do we make one choice because we’re afraid of hurting someone’s feelings, only to become bitter by it later and resent that person because we weren’t honest from the start?

We’ve all made a lot of choices in our lives; those can never be changed and their course has guided us along a road that some of us would have given up everything to get off of.

Some of us procrastinate our lives away and sadly wonder where the time went and others are heartbroken because they let their one true love get away, simply because their pride kept them from making the effort, and the same can be said regarding lost friendships that stay distant because one or both refuse to be the one to reach out first.

Regrets? Yes, many of us live with those because we weren’t true with the people who meant the most to us, whether they were family, friends, or lovers.

I wouldn't wish a lifetime of misgivings on anyone, because not being able to change something permanently etched in stone can be, at times, tormenting.

I think that if people can be true to themselves, and to others, such regrets would be few and far between. 

Not too long ago I came across a little piece of wisdom from a woman who said that when she was 28 she mentioned to her doctor that she wanted to become a physician but didn't feel that she could because she would probably finish school by the time she was 40. The doctor looked at her and said, "You'll be 40 anyway."