I wrote this list today in a writing group sponsored by Story Circle Network. This will be short but sweet tonight since it’s almost 9 and I started this morning at 8 am. Perhaps, I need to add to my list of regrets: sitting too much and not walking more. Yes, that definitely makes the list.

Some fo the things I regret (not a definitive list and in no order of importance)

1. Wasting time on worrying about my weight, my appearance, my intelligence and my writing ability.
2. Not traveling more when Ray and I were first married.
3. Fighting too much with Ray when our kids were little.
4. Not seeing my mother the last couple of days before she died.
5. Being too hard on myself
6. Not taking more literature classes
7. Not understanding Ray sooner
8. Not understanding myself sooner
9. Not relaxing and enjoying life sooner
10. Not devoting more time to my writing
11. Not seeing my grandkids even more often than I already do
12. Not yet developing a plan to see all the major art museums in the world
13. Not spending at least some time every year on the shores of the ocean
14. Not recognizing sooner what I can control and what I can’t
15. Not singing longer with the LA Camerata
16. Not figuring out how to spend more time with the people I love the most
17. Not learning until I was much older that I have a voice and I can use it
18. Not developing an exercise regime (still need to do this) so that I can maintain my good health
19. Not forgiving myself very easily
20. Not having yet published a book that I’m proud to have written

With that in mind, I’ll attend to things that I can still change. That is not a bad plan.

Luckily, I have learned to forgive myself for things I can’t change. That is not a regret.

Good night, my friends.

We’ll talk again soon.