Regret only Regret

The only thing we have in life to regret is regret itself. It takes us completely out of the moment, and in its own conniving little way, regret actually dishonors it. Why waste the time it takes to regret what you haven't done today, rather than rejoice in what you have? Why belittle the effort you made and the things you did get accomplished, by complaining about the things you didn't get to? Why be sad about the painting you didn't paint, the book you didn't finish, the pictures you didn't get to take, when you at least got the paints, wrote two lines, or witnessed a magnificent sunset?

Regret draws us downward to a place of sadness, guilt, anger, resistance. It completely drains the energy out of all of life. That which was fun and beautiful is nullified, made to be of no value. What a waste. This moment is precious. There is nothing more precious than this moment - no other activity, no other task, nothing else could be as glorious as this, right here, right now. Those other things are for other moments - leave them, let them have their own time.

The way to dispel regret is to actively practice gratitude. Breathe in, breathe out, and say thank you for whatever you are doing, no matter what it is. Set a timer and do it again in 10 minutes, in an hour, in 3 hours. Regret has no chance in the presence of true gratitude. Say thank you, open yourself the incredible gift that this moment is.

There is nothing to regret but regret itself. And the choice is yours - to wallow in regret or to choose, instead, a grateful heart.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2008 Darshan F Jessop