I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I
found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant
and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking
about my annual "Guilt Trip."
I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely
short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry
it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of
what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the
Regret City International Airport. I say international because people
from all over the world come to this dismal town.
As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be
hosting the year's most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn't
going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens
would be there.
First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have
and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol' Wish
and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and
Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterdays. There are far too many
of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.
Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It's Their
Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed
in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me
and I Couldn't Help It.
Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing
that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became
very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures
brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and
subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME! I started
to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be
depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY,
BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy,
joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I
left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am
I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no physical
way to undo them.
So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel
all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting
Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence
there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very
helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because
the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in
finding this great town. If you can find it -- it's in your own heart
-- please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.