No more regrets

I was once told by my late grandfather “all the money in the world can never buy happiness” and on Sunday last I realised just how true this is. All the riches in this world could never get you happiness or the happiness you enjoy by having a close knit family. In today’s world, where everything is more and more expensive, our main concern is making money. We do in fact need money to survive but it is also true that all the money in the world could never buy happiness. Last Sunday my family and I celebrated my father’s birthday and retirement and we were about to take a family photo. As I wrapped my arm around his neck, I realised that things would not always be the way they are now. The thought made me engrave my family’s photo in my head almost instantly.

The happiness that we all shared at that moment and the joy that we experienced knowing that we have been together through life’s toughest moments is something I will always remember. If ever I have to make a choice between all the money in the world and my family I would ultimately choose my family. Another thing that money can’t buy is health. All the money in the world cannot save you if you’re having a heart attack and particularly if you live somewhere like Tabaquite. I’m trying to say that while it is important that we work for money to support our families and to provide for their needs, it is more important that we take time out to cherish our family. We should realise that those closest to us matter more.

In a split second this could be taken away from us and we would have the burden of regret to bear. After losing someone special, there is always the “I wish I did, or I wish I could” song. Why not do it now? Why not tell them you love them now? Why not show your concern and affection now? A simple hug can save the day not to mention a life. At an earlier age I always heard “live every moment to its fullest.” And I thought how stupid is that? How can you live every moment to its fullest when life is the same old thing every day? If I had the life of a superstar maybe then I would live it to the fullest, but now? This life? I was very stupid for thinking that because now I wish I could go back to those earlier days and live every moment over again. But I refuse to be stuck in the past.

That was a learning experience for me. I have learnt to live in the now while at the same time not forgetting my future goals since we must have goals and dreams in life. Without them life makes no sense, however, we must cherish today. We must cherish those in our lives and even those who make our lives difficult. They are the ones who are forcing us and maybe encouraging us in some weird way to grow.  Please cherish the now and not the “could be” and “should be.” I have had many regrets because of not living for today. One of these self-condemnations is not spending more time with my late grandfather.

So now, I just settle with saying a prayer for him and hoping that he is happy. If I can just touch one person with this column I would feel as though I have achieved something. Things are not always as bad are they seem. There is always someone else in a worse situation than you, so cherish the now and even the struggles of now because that way you add experience to your books. I was so caught up in finding the right person to spend my life with that I forgot to live in the now and to cherish those are actually in my life. I guess to become successful in life one must understand what matters most and in my case that’s my family. I have also realised to become successful you should limit your regrets and I guess that should be my motto: “2005... no more regrets!”