This week I was sent an email by a family friend. It was entitled 45 Lessons Life Taught Me and written by a 90-year old woman named Regina Brett. While several of the entries struck a cord there was one entry in particular that stayed with me after I read it. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
I try not to have regrets or dwell in the past but when I look back at the last 10 years I realize that is exactly what I have been doing. I've wondered how I made the mistakes I have and what could I have done to avoid them. I think about what I could have done to make my life turn out the way I thought it was supposed to. I've asked myself why some relationships haven't worked out and why was I alone when I so desperately wanted to share my life with someone.
I know it may sound a bit depressing but I learned a lot about myself during that time. I never learned how to be myself in a relationship. I held on to old hurts and old loves. I've been jealous and insecure. I learned I have a hard time saying no to things I don't want to do when people I love ask me to do them. I dislike confrontation. Most of these are things that I want to change so when I read that entry, everything became clear. Let go of the past, the hurts, the sorrows but remember the lessons learned from them. Move on and live the life that makes me happy. Be secure, learn to say no when it matters, learn to deal with confrontation, and most of BE MYSELF.
At Christmas, I was given a book entitled 2 Do Before I Die by Michael Ogden and Chris Day. It is a compilation of stories from people about accomplishing lifelong goals whether they be visiting a place never seen before, learning a new skill, or doing something everyone else thinks is foolish. This is what prompted my own bucket list.
The first 20 things came pretty easily, most were to do with places I wanted to see in the world and a couple of experiences I wanted to have. I was even able to cross a couple of things off the list.
My list includes: live in a foreign country, take a vacation that doesn't involve visiting someone, write a novel, get published, learn to sing well, find the person I can't live without.
What does your list include? I'd love to know what you all dream about. Send me your dreams...
Til next time....read it, follow it, comment on it, forward it, LOVE IT...and come back for more!
I try not to have regrets or dwell in the past but when I look back at the last 10 years I realize that is exactly what I have been doing. I've wondered how I made the mistakes I have and what could I have done to avoid them. I think about what I could have done to make my life turn out the way I thought it was supposed to. I've asked myself why some relationships haven't worked out and why was I alone when I so desperately wanted to share my life with someone.
I know it may sound a bit depressing but I learned a lot about myself during that time. I never learned how to be myself in a relationship. I held on to old hurts and old loves. I've been jealous and insecure. I learned I have a hard time saying no to things I don't want to do when people I love ask me to do them. I dislike confrontation. Most of these are things that I want to change so when I read that entry, everything became clear. Let go of the past, the hurts, the sorrows but remember the lessons learned from them. Move on and live the life that makes me happy. Be secure, learn to say no when it matters, learn to deal with confrontation, and most of BE MYSELF.
At Christmas, I was given a book entitled 2 Do Before I Die by Michael Ogden and Chris Day. It is a compilation of stories from people about accomplishing lifelong goals whether they be visiting a place never seen before, learning a new skill, or doing something everyone else thinks is foolish. This is what prompted my own bucket list.
The first 20 things came pretty easily, most were to do with places I wanted to see in the world and a couple of experiences I wanted to have. I was even able to cross a couple of things off the list.
My list includes: live in a foreign country, take a vacation that doesn't involve visiting someone, write a novel, get published, learn to sing well, find the person I can't live without.
What does your list include? I'd love to know what you all dream about. Send me your dreams...
Til next time....read it, follow it, comment on it, forward it, LOVE IT...and come back for more!
When the women get together, we inevitably end up play ing your mother's game, you know what I'm talking about. One of the questions, I believe is what would you change about your past life if you could change something and I always reply "nothing", because if I were to change anything that I have done or experienced I would not be in the place that I am now. I would not be the content daugter, wife, mother, grandmother and lastly best girlfriend in the world that my life experiences have made me. You have become the woman (through your life experiences) that Craig wants to spend all his time with. So, in short, embrace your past difficulties, disappointments, and hardships because they have combined to make you the strong woman you are right now. The woman, I feel is ready to embrace the love of your life. Never live in regret or what ifs. Love you and keep up the blogs
ReplyDeleteLynda says it perfect...Mike will often make the comment "If I could have done that differently." This is most often made with regards to money he spent in his youth, houses or buildings he sold and maybe should have kept, etc. The other day I explained to him that if he would have made other choices in his past they may have led him in a different direction and we may not have met, married, and had our 2 wonderful kids. I also explained to him that in my past I have made many decisions, none of which I regret, because at that time in my life I felt they were the best choice for me. You and I have been brought up to consider what we do before we do it, and we have also been allowed to make our own mistakes. Don't regret the choices you have made in your past, they were the right choices at the time and they have brought you to this point in your life....to a job/life in a foreign land, to a man who loves you for being you, to the point in your life where you are a confident, successful woman. We have all had the disappointments, lost loves, insecurities, etc. but they make us who we are. You are right to let go of the past and move forward to finally have the life you have always deserved and dreamed of. Keep up the writing, I so look forward to reading your blogs. I love you and keep safe!!
ReplyDeleteWell said Nikki! It's tough to look back and not have regrets...I have a few, but it took all those mistakes and bad decisions to bring me where I am today, which is a really good place, so I try to keep reminding myself that it was all worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and to answer your question, some of the things on my list include running a marathon, writing a novel, doing a European tour, doing an African safari, becoming fluent in French, and becoming a black belt in karate.
I look forward to your next post. Miss you!!