Regret is by far my biggest fear. I have gotten myself into a lot of trouble and subjected myself to more than my share of embarrassing moments because I don’t want to end up bitter and full of regret when I get old. I like most people have done some stupid things in the past and some of them are not things that I am proud of, but so far I have very few regrets.
This issue with regret started when I was young. My mother would say that I was not afraid to ask for anything. That is true, but mostly because I hated to hear, “Oh, you should have told me…” or “If only you had asked, we could have…” That drives me crazy. I can handle no, but there is something so frustrating about the almost. It’s like Brandy said, “Everybody knows, ALMOST doesn’t count!”
Think about it. “I was almost a crackhead.” That doesn’t even sound right. “I was almost fat.” That just sounds like something people say to make you feel better (like they can relate), but just makes you want to punch them in the face. “I almost bought you a present,” but you didn’t you cheap jerk and now you want me to pretend like it doesn’t matter. Maybe you should reply with, “I almost liked you” or “I almost decided not to kick you out.”
My college track coach used to make us watch the movie about Steve Prefontaine. Besides having one of the most awesome 70’s mustaches Steve Prefontaine was a great middle and long distance runner. He had a chance to win in the 1972 Olympics, but kicked it out too soon and finished 4th. He then died in a tragic car accident before getting another chance at winning. I understood that we were watching it so that we would be inspired to give our best, but when the movie ended and the coach went into a groupie worthy Prefontaine speech out of nowhere I heard one of my friends yell, “Who cares? He didn’t even win.” That is the truth of it folks. People don’t want to hear about the almost. Although, he is probably the most famous 4th place finisher in the history of the Olympics. There are gold medalists, who don’t have a movie, but he had to die to be a 4th place legend and I am just not willing to go that far.
Almost is only good for storytelling. The time you almost got into an accident, almost got arrested, almost lost it are all good for a laugh. That time you almost took a drink, but decided to stay on the wagon is good for encouragement. Almost has its place, but the truth is you can’t be an almost alcoholic, shopaholic, liar, nymphomaniac or friend. Either you are or you aren’t. Either you go for your dreams or you don’t. You will either build a life or regrets or you will stand in your own way.
You know that feeling after you have gotten into a verbal dispute and time has passed and you think of the perfect comeback and all you can think is, “Why didn’t I say that” or “I should have said…” I don’t want that to be me anymore than it has too. So here is to a life with as few regrets as possible. Who’s with me?
I'm with you!
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