From the South

By Andrew Hawes, PM — Jr. Warden

I still remember a line that someone at my college had on their logout terminal screen in the computer lab.  It was quoting lyrics from a song, and said:“Well, son, a funny thing about regret is that it’s  better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven’t done.”

While this sentiment is being expressed in somewhat negative terms (clearly it’s better not to regret at all…) the message contained within it is at its core a powerful one, that we should all try to make part of our lives.

I suspect we’ve all heard the expression “opportunity knocks but once” – it’s a similar message, the meaning being that one should take opportunities when they are presented, and not miss out on them because of fear or an overabundance of caution.

This isn’t to say that every opportunity is a good one that we should take – I don’t for a moment regret NOT taking a hit from the crack pipe I was once offered while chatting with a homeless man in the BART station – but that we should pay close attention to the opportunities that do come along, and not miss out on good ones due to fear or inaction.

Live your life and make your choices.  Try to make good ones, but accept that they won't all be good, and that's just how life goes.

Make sure you have things to look back on with regret- because that's the only way to also have things to look back on fondly and with pride.