On Regret
TL;DR:
Each moment is precious. Make the most of that time.
Let go of past regrets. They weigh on you in ways you don’t realize.
Saturday was a whirlwind of activity. Cleaning and sorting and organizing. If you ever wonder if I take the advice in my own newsletter’s seriously, Saturday was a perfect example of what I discussed in the last newsletter. Sunday is always meant to be slower, but this Sunday - Yesterday - was ridiculously slow. We grabbed lunch and I taught class in the afternoon but otherwise, except for finishing a couple of tv series we’d been watching I have little to show for yesterday.
Or, so it might seem.
As I went to bed last night, I chastised myself for wasting the day. But I took a moment and realized that I actually felt rested after feeling completely wiped out Saturday night. Gayle and I had some good conversations on Sunday morning and I’d gotten another load of stuff off to Goodwill in my cleaning and decluttering efforts. A good reframe of my regret over the “lost” time was that the time had been spent resting and letting my mind and body take a bit of a break.
This is my constant struggle. The struggle between doing and simply being. Being present in the moment and enjoying this life. Kona is good for me in this. He’ll often crawl onto my lap, lay down, and remind me that the most important thing I have to do in that moment is stroke his soft fur.
The next time you feel regret over how you spent some time, reframe and see if you can focus on how you were present in that moment.
Some Things You Might Find Interesting
What I published this week: My publishing streak continues, although only just. I published two of these pretty late in the evening:
It’s almost time for the Quarterly Review - and with it my brand new community and course site will launch officially! Get in on the fun of the launch by purchasing the Quarterly Review now for 50% off either the all access pass (get all of the remaining activities throughout the year) or just the workshop. Click the link to automatically apply the coupon or use SUMMER2023 at checkout. Being a member before the launch will guarantee you get access to all the new full benefits for at least a year to come as one of my early subscribers and supporters!
As Gayle and I get into full prep mode for our coming Northern European vacation, I’ll be sharing more of my favorite travel tips and hacks. Here are two more:
We are exploring food tours and food hall options in our destination ports. This has become one of our favorite ways to experience a new city. Food tours often allow you to connect with a small group of travelers, explore four or more food venues, see the sites, and get in a good walk under the watchful eye of a local guide. The next time you’re going to a new city, google food tours or food hall and the city name and see if any options interest you.
Gayle and I both love our packing cubes! They keep things neatly organized in our suitcases. You can use them to put things together by type, by day, or really any organizational structure you want. There are loads of options on Amazon, but I like these. Since Gayle’s are blue and mine are orange it’s also easy to see whose things are whose - another bonus tip if you’re traveling with someone else.
I have been thinking about regrets a bit lately, but this morning’s article was really cemented for me while I was listening to The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig. When I googled trailers for the book (did you know that was a thing? It is!), I discovered one from Mooresville Indiana Public Library! The book’s rights have been sold for it to be made into a book or movie. I’ll be intrigued if this actually occurs.
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