This week’s theme is REGRET. I found the theme very awkward on this week when people are supposed to celebrate LOVE. But a challenge is a challenge so here goes mine.
I think, there is no such thing as a life without regrets. A person may say that he has no regrets in life, but in reality, he may just be trying to cover up his feelings. At some point in our lives, we would have said we could have done better.
Five months ago, my father passed away while I was thousand miles away working in another country. The following day, I flew back home to pay my last respect. My regret was that I should have spent more time with him. If I only knew.
But then, I have seen how my father lived his life. I saw how he had touched the lives of many people. On his wake, hundreds came to see him for the last time. For serving our community during his stronger years, the national flag was placed on top of his casket. During the funeral, he was carried by community leaders (as shown on the photograph), and was given honors at the hall.
Yes, I may have regrets. But I also understand that everything happens to us for a reason. The hard times that we go through build our character to make us a stronger person.
And so, we move on.
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You might want to check out my EULOGY for my Dad in this LINK.
A Dose A Day 
That’s sad news but you seem get over it. My father has also died seven years ago.
However it has a reason as you say.
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Sad news indeed. But yeah, I’m moving on.
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I am sorry you lost your father and were not there when he died. You have written some very wise words – thank you.
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Thanks too, Ronnie.
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I am sorry that you lost your father. Life has regrets and love too 🙂
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Thanks for dropping by 🙂
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My condolences,
My Dad passed away 5 years ago. Sometimes I still grab the phone thinking I’m going to call him..or usually, the realization hits me before I actually get to the phone. Our situation was a bit different, as I rarely saw him as a child, and he wasn’t in my life at all till I was 20 something. God is a great reconciler, as He arranged for us to get to know one another for 20 years before he passed, and I was with him when he left this world.( Though I regret I didn’t spend more of those 20 years with him) My regrets are much the same as yours, nonetheless, as I guess none of us spend the time we should with the ones we love. But, I firmly believe our dads…yours and mine are in a much better place today.
Bless You
paul
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Paul. It was good to hear that you had the chance to be with your father at least for the last 20 years before he left. Better than not getting the chance at all. I’m sure you have some nice memories. And yeah, our Dads are in a much better place now.
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I have to disagree with you – I am not covering up when I say I have NO regrets. Did I make bad/wrong decisions? Yes, time and time again. But what good does it do to regret them…nothing except waste my time now. And if I were granted the chance to change them I would have to really think about it because then there is the chance that i would end up in a very different place…and I like where I am now, So regrets – no – I have none.
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Thanks for your insights, Jo. I apologize for my words, as I think it’s not wise to generalize that people just tend to hide their regrets, as some may really have none at all. Life is about choices.
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Oh you must NEVER apologise for your opinions to me – I just enjoy a good debate that’s all. 😉
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Ah! I was thinking I could hurt people, not only you, for generalizing. I enjoyed this sharing of opinions too! I get to learn a lot 🙂
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Stating your own opinions as you did in the way you did could not hurt a person. There is a difference in that and being cruel. I know that many don’t agree with what I say…but it is their right. I think it is great that you are so open to listen and discuss what others have to say – if only more were like that.
🙂
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Thanks, Jo 🙂 Cheers 😀
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I’m sorry about your lost.
…….
However, I’m backing up Jo. It’s just that “regret” is such a strong word. I have many “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve” moments but I don’t consider them as regrets.
It’s an awful theme for the challenge, again. I still can’t find anything to post.
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Thanks, Rommel.
An awful theme indeed. I hope next week is a better one 🙂
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I am sorry about your lost. And I will completely agree with you that, there is not a single person in this planet, who does not has any regret.
“The hard times that we go through build our character to make us a stronger person”- this line is so true. Even in my post for this week’;s challenge I have written something like this.
My best wishes to you my friend.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Arindam. All the best to you too.
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Please accept my deepest sympathy for your loss, Nelson. Right now, I know there’s no word that could heal you yet I know time will soon can.
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Thank you, Sony. Your words are comforting.
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Great entry for this week theme my friend
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Thanks Jake!
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Bro, sorry, please delete the last comment . It was meant for the love story post of you and your lovely wife. I am sorry to hear about your father. I can’t imaginehow hard it must been to be so far away when events like this happens. This is one reason I’m going home this year. I don’t want to regret one day that I didn’t took the time to be with them. I have not seen them for 4 years now…life is unpredictable…we need to express our love now for them for as long as we can. God bless you and your family. My sincere condolence and prayers for your loss.
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Done deleting 🙂
Yeah, I visited your blog last night and found out you were arrpoved to go for a vacation and visit your family back home. That’s wonderful! I’m happy for you and I wish you a safe journey. I’m sure you’ll bring back wonderful stories when you come back, and I’ll look forward to those posts. God bless you and your family too.
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sorry to hear about your Dad. being far away must have made it tough.
however i agree with Jo – regret really is a choice for me. so i choose not to, rather than waste energy and time over something i cannot change – as it could potentially prevent me from being open to the blessings and opportunities that are before me. and if regret makes me miss these, then i have even more to regret later. it could turn into a vicious cycle.
so the way i see it, it is wise to forgive others if there is a need to, and to forgive myself if that is applicable, and i move on. that is a liberating way to live! so i encourage you to feel free to forgive yourself that you could not be with your Dad – you were doing your best where you were, and your intent was not to be absent, but to do that which you needed to do. bless you – and like the pencil parable, know there is mercy available for every new day 🙂
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Thank you for these wonderful comment. I really appreciate your kind words. I am moving on, and time is helping me 🙂
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So sorry for your loss, Nelson. And thanks for sharing your feelings and finding such beautiful words. What you are saying resonates with some feelings in all of us.
I regret very much that I wasn’t able to be with my father in Germany when I knew he had only a few more months to live. So I couldn’t make it to his funeral either. Naturally I regret this.. I also know I could not have acted differently at the time. It took us years before we were able to afford a trip back to our home country to reconnect with family.
My mother died many years later, rather suddenly. It so happened we were with her at the time when she took a bad turn. She stayed alive in hospital for another two weeks. Then she was gone. My husband, my daughter and I had to go back to Australia at a certain date. My mother’s funeral had to be delayed because of a lack of facilities in Berlin shortly after reunification. There was nothing we could do to have the funeral earlier. So this is another regret that it was not possible for us to stay for the funeral.
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Thanks for the link to the eulogy for your Dad. I checked it out and found it very inspiring. It’s so good you good do this for your Dad. Such wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing. Again: Sorry for your loss and my condolences.’ . . .everything happens to us for a reason . . .’ I think so too.
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Thanks, Auntyuta! I’m glad you liked the eulogy. I’m moving on 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your story, Auntyuta. Most of us have many regrets in life, but sometimes it’s because of circumstances beyond our control. What matters is we continue to live having learned our lessons 🙂 Have a good day!
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What a wonderful way to honor the memory of your dad. I imagined him a giant in the community and yes, we all have regrets.
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Oh no, he wasn’t really a big name in the community. But he has helped a lot of people. He has a very big heart. Thanks for visiting 🙂
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Yes, I understand he was a giant heart in his community… TY! 😉
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Oh yes… giant heart indeed 🙂
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