A Time of Regret or Hope (And Change!)™?
Something I have noticed about people this time of year is that they are obsessed with the past. There is something about the resetting of the Roman calendar that makes us reflect upon what we have done during our last rotation around the sun. It is around this time that people look back on past events, and then laugh, smile, or feel regret. Unfortunately, what we usually do is regret.
We, as people, typically regret the previous year because of past mistakes. Maybe we missed a vital opportunity, screwed up a relationship, bought Britney Spear’s Circus album or, in my case, developed a genuine affection for a woman that wasn’t a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and did not AT ALL share my feelings. To make matters worse that Hallmark holiday of love where we celebrate the death of a saint by getting our significant other chocolate and diamonds is right around the corner.
What should be a time of celebration and new beginnings has become a time of regret and depression, especially if you’re a McCain or Vikings fan.
What we forget in our selfishness and despair is that the atomic clock is still ticking and life is going on without you. We fail to see any opportunity when we lament over missing previous ones and until Doc Brown invents a hybrid that can generate 1.21 gigawatts and actually attain a speed of 88 mph (Yeah, right) we cannot change the past. Unless you’re a paid or aspiring historian, or you can’t get enough of The History Channel, living in the past serves no practical purpose. If you have not learned from your mistake and moved on you’re only wasting time that cannot be regained.
Furthermore, we fail to realize how our not-so pleasant experiences build our character and make us stronger. While my attempt to court a beautiful women resulted in a Top Gun-esque crash and burn that WILL require a few more beers to douse the flames out (it’s a good excuse to go to a bar anyway), I feel very proud that I mustered the courage to give it all I had. It has made me a stronger person knowing I can do it again and probably get rejected at least once more. There is always a hidden opportunity or lesson in every hardship; we just have to find them.
We cannot get caught up in the winds of collective myspace misery no matter how appealing My Chemical Romance makes it look. Sure it feels nice to have a bunch of random people express charity but does pity really make us feel happy and, more importantly, does it last? Expressions of commiseration is a pain killer and, as such, is a controlled substance that gives only a temporary buzz and demands more and more as time goes on. While attaining solace from friends during times of hardship is essential to recovery, it is not meant to be taken after said recuperation for fear of addiction… and clinginess tends to annoy others.
In conclusion, avoid regret when reflecting upon the past year. As humans it is our nature to be flawed and otherwise royally screw up. We all do it so learn from your own mistakes or, better yet, learn from the mistakes of others and emulate the lessons learned in your own life. World history is often seen as one big regret but it is also contains a long list of success stories. With however many billion people there are in the world, chances are someone made the same mistakes you did but they moved on and made something of themselves. I can go on and on about how much potential every person has but A) it gets repetitive, B) I do not know you, and C) that’s Rick Warren’s job. All I can say is that every person has the means and the possibility to ascend to greatness regardless if you see it or not. Whether you succeed or fail is entirely up to you.
To quote the great fictional Master Oogway, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
Don’t waste it.
We, as people, typically regret the previous year because of past mistakes. Maybe we missed a vital opportunity, screwed up a relationship, bought Britney Spear’s Circus album or, in my case, developed a genuine affection for a woman that wasn’t a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and did not AT ALL share my feelings. To make matters worse that Hallmark holiday of love where we celebrate the death of a saint by getting our significant other chocolate and diamonds is right around the corner.
What should be a time of celebration and new beginnings has become a time of regret and depression, especially if you’re a McCain or Vikings fan.
What we forget in our selfishness and despair is that the atomic clock is still ticking and life is going on without you. We fail to see any opportunity when we lament over missing previous ones and until Doc Brown invents a hybrid that can generate 1.21 gigawatts and actually attain a speed of 88 mph (Yeah, right) we cannot change the past. Unless you’re a paid or aspiring historian, or you can’t get enough of The History Channel, living in the past serves no practical purpose. If you have not learned from your mistake and moved on you’re only wasting time that cannot be regained.
Furthermore, we fail to realize how our not-so pleasant experiences build our character and make us stronger. While my attempt to court a beautiful women resulted in a Top Gun-esque crash and burn that WILL require a few more beers to douse the flames out (it’s a good excuse to go to a bar anyway), I feel very proud that I mustered the courage to give it all I had. It has made me a stronger person knowing I can do it again and probably get rejected at least once more. There is always a hidden opportunity or lesson in every hardship; we just have to find them.
We cannot get caught up in the winds of collective myspace misery no matter how appealing My Chemical Romance makes it look. Sure it feels nice to have a bunch of random people express charity but does pity really make us feel happy and, more importantly, does it last? Expressions of commiseration is a pain killer and, as such, is a controlled substance that gives only a temporary buzz and demands more and more as time goes on. While attaining solace from friends during times of hardship is essential to recovery, it is not meant to be taken after said recuperation for fear of addiction… and clinginess tends to annoy others.
In conclusion, avoid regret when reflecting upon the past year. As humans it is our nature to be flawed and otherwise royally screw up. We all do it so learn from your own mistakes or, better yet, learn from the mistakes of others and emulate the lessons learned in your own life. World history is often seen as one big regret but it is also contains a long list of success stories. With however many billion people there are in the world, chances are someone made the same mistakes you did but they moved on and made something of themselves. I can go on and on about how much potential every person has but A) it gets repetitive, B) I do not know you, and C) that’s Rick Warren’s job. All I can say is that every person has the means and the possibility to ascend to greatness regardless if you see it or not. Whether you succeed or fail is entirely up to you.
To quote the great fictional Master Oogway, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
Don’t waste it.