“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.” Jim Rohn

I think we all wonder sometimes what our life WOULD have been like, had we taken that other path. Had we stayed with this person, or taken that job. Kind of like that Gwyneth Paltrow movie Sliding Doors. The main character is about to catch the train, or miss the train. The movie is about how catching or missing the train affected her life in very different ways.

So as we approach the New Year, I think it’s only fitting to talk about regrets. We’ve all had a few (no, I’m not reciting Frank Sinatra’s My Life). We’ve all made decisions in our lives that we wish we could have taken back or done differently. I can’t say I have major regrets thus far. I didn’t lose my virginity too young. I tried drugs at a respectable age. The only thing I did too young maybe, was smoke cigarettes. Eight is a little young, I agree. But the majors, like my career choice, or my life partner, or how many kids I had, amongst others, I ain’t got one regret. The only regret I have, is the handful of times where I wish I had handled myself differently in certain situations. But, once the cat is out of the bag, it’s very hard to put him back in. I do, however, think the things we have regrets about build character and make us harder. Mistakes are stepping stones. It’s not bullshit, it’s true. (more…)