I don’t know if it counts as a regret but I wish I’d learned earlier in life that the above sayings are two halves of a whole, two sides of the coin toss of life.  Perhaps what I regret more precisely is that I didn’t try to learn these truths earlier rather than coming to realize their truth after coming through some painful but life-defining experiences.  But if I hadn’t gone through those losses and upheavals then perhaps I might still have not truly learned what it means to let things happen when they should.  To not persist in the futile task of jamming the square pegs of my wants into the round holes of the world and its mysterious ways.

Understanding that things happen in the context of a time scale and grand plan that’s above and beyond me has removed a great deal of unproductive thought and anxiety from my mind and allowed more room for gratitude, faith and the ability to (mostly) live in the moment.  Interestingly, this new frame of mind has brought me closer to getting what I want than my previous crowded mindset.

There’s a whole lot less wanting and yearning in my life these days which I’m hoping is showing in my face and smile.  With regard to the things that I do want, it’s a wanting in a casual backburner kind of way.  I’ve learned to define the wants more clearly in my mind and also now realize that the key to achieving wants is to be persistent and to make small, sustainable changes.

Do you regret not learning something about life earlier?