How often do you catch yourself regretting something you should have done, but you didn’t? Or something you shouldn’t have done but you did it anyways?
You revealed your secret or you didn’t.
You accepted a new job offer or you didn’t.
You moved to a new place or you didn’t.
You dissolved a romantic attachment or you didn’t.
You ventured out – explored new lands you’ve always dreamt of
or you didn’t… not yet.
You opened your heart or you kept it closed.
You allowed the kiss to unfold or you sealed your lips and bowed out.
You picked the apple just on time or you waited too long
and the sun-ripened fruit got snatched by the wrong .
You said I’m sorry or you didn’t… not yet.
You are exactly where you want to be, who you want to be, how you want to be. And if you think you’re not (not yet), because you generated too many regrets, you are still exactly where you want to be. Also, you can still get exactly where you want to go, with more ease if you are willing to drop your regrets that hold you back.
You think, there for you are. I am, therefore you are. Being right here, right now, because when you are – fully here and now – there is no space for regrets.
Learn to strengthen your faculty of presence – become fully engrossed in the present moment.
Feel the wind breeze on your skin – fully.
Smell something that you like, something that brings up a sense of freshness and happiness to you – freshly peeled orange, fresh bread, the scent of roses, sea breeze, strawberries, coffee. Whatever it may be.
Watch the birds flying, the squirrels jumping, branches of the tree swaying in the wind.
Touch your arm, massage your neck, kiss your own hands!
Bring your attention to something that anchors your senses here and now, so your thoughts may follow, so you can bring your mind home, here and now – yes, this is home!
Or simply – read these few lines totally engrossed – the lines I have put together with my fullest attention, for you, my dear fellow traveler, wholeheartedly.
Life is like a meandering river, full of life, ever-changing. Never can you step in the same river twice. Never are you the same person again. And so is your life journey – continuously morphing. You can never repeat the same moment twice, hence, try to live it fully, whatever that fully may be for you. Don’t compare your life with someone else or with your past self – don’t get lost in comparing, judging, regretting. Accept your life and every single moment that brought you here & now. Be grateful for everything that happened or didn’t happen in your life.
Why? Because in this very moment of time you are the sum of all the moments that have brought you to this point in life. A culmination of all the bits that have made you the way you are.
I would not be here and now if one single twinkle was left out. It doesn’t matter how I perceived that moment in the past – but it matters now, because although that moment cannot be changed, my current perception of that moment can.
And there is nothing else more powerful than the realization that everything is perfect, just the way it is.
Health, sickness, wealth, poverty, happiness, sadness, regrets, pain, anger, suffering, acceptance. Yes, even regrets are part of who we are in this very moment. Even regrets are perfect as soon as I am able to perfectly accept them and accept myself for having them. And if I struggle doing so, I ask myself a question: ‘Do they serve me well? Are they life enriching companions? Do they bring me peace, joy, a smile to my face? Or do they make me cry and cringe? Being soaked in my own regrets what happens to me? Does it take away my ability to be more present, from living my life fully here & now? Do I need really them? Is it time to let go?’
What is your emotional state right now? How does it feel having to experience these feelings? Look into yourself, be honest with yourself – no judgement. Take a deep breath, hold your breath for a few moments, allow your thoughts and emotions to sink together, then… breathe it all out. Pufff, all gone. With a sigh or two if needed be… take a deep, long fresh breath. Do this motion a few times, as many times as you think & feel you need to, and then, take a few moments to be fully present with yourself. Nobody else but your own self.
There’s not much else left. Acceptance, knowing you are here and now, whoever, wherever you are, whatever you have or not. Simplicity. Feel and recognize yourself fully, be grateful for being alive, as you enter the flow and you ride with the force of your own, powerful, life-giving breath. Simply, by being, remaining aware, for as long as you can. Move your fingers, your toes, your nose, your legs, shoulders, smack your lips, blink with your eyes – just because you can.
What an empowering thought. ‘I can!‘ So simple, taken for granted – yet – when I realize that no stone, tree, or building has that same ability & gift as I have, it makes me smile, I feel empowered and grateful to be what, where, how, and who I am.
As human beings we are blessed to dwell in perfect human bodies, we have brilliant minds, capacity to move, think, feel, sense, love, spill our hearts out. I can scratch myself when I feel an itch – and I am the only one in this whole wide world who knows that I have an itch, only I know where and how to scratch myself to sooth my itch. Hence, I know what freedom is, even if it has to start by noticing an innocent itch that never goes unnoticed and unattended. At leas for me.
You know that very well, we all have that in common, that’s why it made you chuckle and smile. Say ‘thank you life’, next time you get the pleasure to scratch yourself again!
Fundamentally, life is good. Rivers flow, just like your precious life. We are human beings – what a miracle and force of nature, such an incredible potential, so many possibilities at any given time in life.
One final conscious breath, lungs filled up with fresh air, a short pause, and out I go following my exhale. In with the new, out with the old! It’s the only way forward whether you think it or not. I am, therefore you are. I did what I could, and I didn’t what I couldn’t.
Allow life to flow, remain as present as you can so you can respond accordingly at any given moment in time, do your best, and use your time wisely & fully & well.
Life is precious. It’s a good life. So, let it flow!
