Do you have regrets?

When I say regrets, I mean real regrets. Not, I should have ordered a pizza instead of a sub for lunch or I should have chosen the seven iron instead of the eight iron on my approach shot.

Real regrets can eat at you for days, weeks, months, and years as you look back and say, “what if I had just . . .” or “I wish I never did or said that to that person” or “man, if I had only stayed with that job longer . . .”

You get the picture.

There are those that say anyone who has lived a full and long life will have some real regrets they accumulate over the years. That’s very true.

As many people around me hit that big 50, and others approach it, I started to think about the things I would do completely different if I could go back with the knowledge I have now.

You know what’s funny? Even though there are some career decisions I would do differently, I would still choose to do what I do – only I would have embraced certain opportunities and technologies much sooner than I did.

Of course, that’s only if I can’t go back and turn myself into a professional soccer or basketball or tennis player (hehehe).

Rather than the career regrets – which I can still fix now as I take this journey through life (it’s a turtle-esque speed) – I wish I would have been kinder to, and more honest with, a few really good people over the years.

I also wish I had cut off other people a lot earlier as their negativity and poor decision making was creeping into my life.

Though I won’t name names or go into too much detail, as I continue to rebuild some quality friendships and strengthen others, I have come to realize there are some good people that when I was a lot younger and dumber I didn’t do right by.

On the flip side, there are those I gave way, way too many chances to as they took advantage of my weakened state of mind and irrational emotional state as I was attempting to figure myself out and deal with external stresses I didn’t know how to handle.

I’m sharing this because if you’re like me, and many others out there, and have regrets, it’s normal and it shouldn’t be a hurdle that prevents you from being the best you in the present and the future.

To paraphrase a very smart musical artist recently on a podcast interview for The Chris O Show (July 24 release), embracing the lessons from those regrets and mistakes will prevent you from doing it again.

If you get the chance to make things right with someone you did wrong by … do it. They may still have that image of you as a dumb kid in your teens or early 20s, but maybe some legitimate burying the hatchets can go a long way to cleansing your soul and theirs.

On the flip side, if you cut off people who were bringing you down or using you or trying to get you in trouble for their actions, don’t feel bad for taking care of yourself and your family.

Only you can decide to let regrets eat away at you or let them be in the past where they belong.

Don’t let them stop you from being the person you are today and fighting for your success in whatever you do.

One thing I do when I start to feel regret is think about all the wonderful people I have in my life, all the fantastic experiences I’ve had, my family, my close friends, and all the good that I have accomplished.

Without creating those regrets, some of the good in my life that I wouldn’t trade for anything likely wouldn’t be there. That helps me make peace with the past as I focus on the present and the future.

If you’re feeling regretful, try looking at all the good around you and see if that helps put things in a new perspective.

Often you’ll find the love and positivity that soothes the soul.

That’s it’s for me! Ciao for Now!