Sunday, June 05, 2005
Regrets
I used to live by Edith Piaf's philosophy. Her song "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" was my anthem.
Perhaps it's obvious from my telling of "Pandora's Box" that I've still got some issues to work out. ;-) But I still don't think I regret anything.
Lately, however, I have come across two women in one day who have spoken their regrets - one through a blog and one verbally to me.
I seem to have lost my link back to the post I'd read by a woman regretting an abortion she had.
Then while attending a friend's graduation from her midwifery program, one of her guests commented, "Wow. So many women have tattoos here."
I said, "Yeah, well, this is San Francisco."
She responded, "Well, I regret that I ever got my tattoo."
"Really? Where is it?" I asked. She showed me a small wheel-like design, about the size of a silver dollar, on her left shoulder blade.
"That's nice. Why do you regret getting it?"
"Because once it's there, you can't take it away."
I have five tattoos. And I love them all. Well, there is maybe one that I feel mild regret for.
One of my favorite songs by Beth Orton sings out, "What are regrets? They're just lessons we haven't learned yet."
I do my damnedest not to regret much of anything. Though I suppose I could think of a few things that I regret:
-how painful it was for C when I contemplated having an affair two years ago
-that my friendship with my ex had to end after contemplating having an affair with him
-that as a child I hurt my sister
-that I had six affairs in the two years that I dated one of my exes
-that I compromised my self-respect for Steve (we haven't gotten to that yet in the story
-anytime that I've hurt anyone
But like Beth Orton says, I suppose these were all just lessons I hadn't learned yet.
Do you have regrets?
Perhaps it's obvious from my telling of "Pandora's Box" that I've still got some issues to work out. ;-) But I still don't think I regret anything.
Lately, however, I have come across two women in one day who have spoken their regrets - one through a blog and one verbally to me.
I seem to have lost my link back to the post I'd read by a woman regretting an abortion she had.
Then while attending a friend's graduation from her midwifery program, one of her guests commented, "Wow. So many women have tattoos here."
I said, "Yeah, well, this is San Francisco."
She responded, "Well, I regret that I ever got my tattoo."
"Really? Where is it?" I asked. She showed me a small wheel-like design, about the size of a silver dollar, on her left shoulder blade.
"That's nice. Why do you regret getting it?"
"Because once it's there, you can't take it away."
I have five tattoos. And I love them all. Well, there is maybe one that I feel mild regret for.
One of my favorite songs by Beth Orton sings out, "What are regrets? They're just lessons we haven't learned yet."
I do my damnedest not to regret much of anything. Though I suppose I could think of a few things that I regret:
-how painful it was for C when I contemplated having an affair two years ago
-that my friendship with my ex had to end after contemplating having an affair with him
-that as a child I hurt my sister
-that I had six affairs in the two years that I dated one of my exes
-that I compromised my self-respect for Steve (we haven't gotten to that yet in the story
-anytime that I've hurt anyone
But like Beth Orton says, I suppose these were all just lessons I hadn't learned yet.
Do you have regrets?
Comments:
*in best Sinatra voice*
"Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention ..." ;)
Sorry, but it pops into my head every time the subject comes up.
We all have momentary lapses in judgement where perhaps a different action might have avoided huring someone else, but in the end the only regret I think is valid is when we fail to be true to ourselves.
-G
"Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention ..." ;)
Sorry, but it pops into my head every time the subject comes up.
We all have momentary lapses in judgement where perhaps a different action might have avoided huring someone else, but in the end the only regret I think is valid is when we fail to be true to ourselves.
-G
I'm still not sure if I actually have no regrets, but I try not to have regrets, because I don't think they're useful or constructive. You make your choices, and you live with them. And since they've gotten me to here, to this day, then they can't have been that bad. After all, I have a margarita in one hand and good friends on their way over...what is there to regret?
i think it's totally human and natural to have a few regrets.
it seems honest.
people who don't have *any,* i find amazing.
i know i have a few. but like Sinatra said, ... not that many.
;)
it seems honest.
people who don't have *any,* i find amazing.
i know i have a few. but like Sinatra said, ... not that many.
;)
i regret not taking more chances in life when it comes to love. now i try not to think of that anymore and learn from them so that i don't continue to make the same mistake over again. i'm making progress.
Dee - Thanks for making me think and for putting things into perspective. ;-) I, too, have no regrets with regards to who I am today. Every learning experience, despite its pains has been invaluable. True, true, true! Cheers to who we are today! ;-)
G - I hadn't thought of that song at all, so how fun to have you serenade me with it in your comment. ;-)
Jay - sounds like the life! I certainly wouldn't regret getting to a place like you're in right now. ;-)
Milktea - I hear ya!
JennyNYC - Mysterious - so what exactly *is* on your mind?
Transcience - Hysterical! Yeah, I think you've described a few of my exes as well! ;-)
Jax - True. I suppose we all live and learn. Well, hopefully. I think there are a few lessons that are still beating me over the head. ;-)
Stella - Hmmm... Yeah, I'm not sure what to think of people without regrets. Seems they could either be really lucky not to have made mistakes; really blind not to have seen their mistakes; or really Zen and just accepting of them.
Dee - BTW. So nice to see you back. I was wondering if you were still out there. ;-)
Lorena - Hurray to learning from mistakes! You can be my mentor. ;-)
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Jay - sounds like the life! I certainly wouldn't regret getting to a place like you're in right now. ;-)
Milktea - I hear ya!
JennyNYC - Mysterious - so what exactly *is* on your mind?
Transcience - Hysterical! Yeah, I think you've described a few of my exes as well! ;-)
Jax - True. I suppose we all live and learn. Well, hopefully. I think there are a few lessons that are still beating me over the head. ;-)
Stella - Hmmm... Yeah, I'm not sure what to think of people without regrets. Seems they could either be really lucky not to have made mistakes; really blind not to have seen their mistakes; or really Zen and just accepting of them.
Dee - BTW. So nice to see you back. I was wondering if you were still out there. ;-)
Lorena - Hurray to learning from mistakes! You can be my mentor. ;-)
