“Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets.”
– Arthur Miller

A lot has been weighing on my mind lately, but something has been made clear to me during this time of stress and problem solving. I don’t believe anyone can live without any regrets. By definition, the word regret means: ‘to feel sorrow or remorse for (an act, fault, disappointment, etc.)’ or ‘to think of with a sense of loss.’

I believe we’ve all experienced these things, whether they’re remorse for our choice of words, our lack of words, our lack of action, or even in our choice of action. In the end, we may justify what we did by telling ourselves that we chose the ‘best’ logical option, but what qualifies as the “best”? Is it an option that doesn’t compromise at all, compromises a lot, or compromises a little? What if you were told options 1 through 10 existed (with number 10 being the ‘best option’), but you could only choose between 1 through 4; Would that automatically make “4 the ‘best’ option”?

I think life is about choosing to live with the most minimal regrets possible. I remember (at the time) I felt so much regret for not talking to a recruiter soon enough regarding my re-enlistment into the Marine Corps; however, had I re-enlisted I would have never had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing and influential people in my life, as I pursued my Bachelor’s degree. Not only that, but it was my pursuit of higher education that lead me to working in Japan, which in-and-of-itself has given me a wealth of new-found experiences that I would have missed out on – had I re-enlisted. In the end, I’ve come to realize that I’m happy with my choices, and I’m happy with the regrets that have lead me to where I am, today. Regardless, I believe at the end of it all, I know I’ll be right where I need to be.

End of rant.