living without regrets ...

a lot of the time i share what God has been telling me specifically. but sometimes He speaks to me in other ways that are just too good not to pass along.

if i wasn’t already convinced that God has been trying to get my attention lately, i received two emails today that further reinforced the message.

the first, from ‘fearless living’ author rhonda britten, was titled ‘who am i anyway?’ and said -

There's nothing like the unsettling feeling of finding yourself unsure of who you are anymore.

Have you ever woken up one morning not liking your favorite pjs or coffee just doesn't taste good anymore? The things you thought you loved aren't so great. But on the other hand, nothing is really peaking your interest so the questions arises...subtly at first but gets louder and louder: WHO THE HECK AM I?

This can't be me!!!

the second, from oprah’s ‘thought for today’ newsletter, was titled ‘regret proof your life’ (http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Stop-Regretting-Decisions-Martha-Becks-Plan-to-Let-Go) and said -

regret “changes you, leaving you both tougher and more tender. you get to decide, however, whether your toughness will look like unreachable bitterness or unstoppable resilience; your tenderness the raw vulnerability of a never-healing wound, or a kindness so deep it heals every wound it touches. regret can be your worst enemy or your best friend. you get to decide which.” (martha beck)

the author goes on to outline how you can live your life without regret. it means changing the way you look at your past and how you move into your future. learn to accept the reality of your situation, instead of dwelling on the way you wish things would have happened. acknowledge both your anger and your sadness, “grieve what is irrevocably lost,” then “reclaim the essence of your dreams.” you can’t change the way that things have happened, but you can move forward with renewed purpose and vision. make decisions based on love, and you’ll live your life with far fewer regrets.

after reading and writing all that earlier in the evening, the regret that i’ve been fighting against for weeks reared its ugly head yet again. but this time i was able to look at it using some of the tools and perspectives from the article. things are far from resolved, but because i don’t want to be bitter, i know that i must choose to take an honest look at what i’m feeling, no matter how ridiculous it might seem. it’s in the denial of those feelings that i lose who i am, and nothing should have the power to do that. only when i can accept the way that things are, will i be able to change the way that things will be.

a friend posted this quote on facebook tonight -

dear past: thank you for your lessons.
dear future: i’m ready.
dear God: thank you for another chance.

AMEN.