It’s the festive season and the end of the year, and notably the end of the decade. My social media newsfeed features many posts talking about living in the now and not regretting your past life. I acknowledge over the past ten years I have been in many different places. It began in psych units for the first four years then a miracle cure via the love my siblings showed me stating That they did not care how much I hurt them and myself, they would still love me unconditionally. Enter the Conscious Community of Melbourne via the Rainbow Bridge 13:13:13 retreat in Gunnedah in the shire in  December 2013 and my miraculous recovery journey began.

Over those six years, I have had many regrets but this piece of prose from my friend Marc Chernoff sums it up pretty well:

“When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within because you are pursuing the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are living your life the way it is meant to be lived.”

Of course, you will have regrets, but it is how long you hold onto them that matters. Marc lists 17 decisions that can affect you in this area:

1. Not loving what is.
2. Waiting and waiting and waiting.
3. Changing who you are because others have changed.
4. Letting heartache define you.
5. Running away from problems.
6. Being ungrateful.
7. Allowing long-term anger to occupy your heart.
8. Believing that beauty looks a certain way.
9. Letting your expectations run rampant.
10. Disrespecting others.
11. Disrespecting yourself,
12. Putting up with unfaithful friends and lovers.
13. Rushing Love.
14. Neglecting your most important relationships.
15. Trying to control every last detail about everything.
16. Never taking risks.
17. Giving up on YOU.

So, lets have a look at what we human beings say about the power of regret:

1. Congrats, you made it through. Next small step forward.

2. It may be as simple as turning left instead of right and missing out on bumping into the love of your life: Money Changes Everything.

3. From the world’s greatest philosopher Ms Unknown comes this-worldly insight as to why people have come into your life.

4. But we all have those doozies!!!: Why Did You Do That.

5. Yes, it was!!!

6. Our education begins on the day we are born and we graduate on the day we pass: Falling In Love.

7. I relate this to my drugtaking period.

8. Where does falling in love fit in here: Everything Has Changed Now.

9. Mine is bungy jumping in New Zealand.

10. Regret is like the mud in a pigpen, for wallowing in: Bring Me To Life,

11. A writer of words, a poetic soul, an emotive expressionist, Ranata Suzuki is a poet and quote writer whose eloquent words form with painful clarity the sad yet beautiful world of the broken heart.

12. And yes, there is an official description of the mood: No Regrets.

13. Shadow and Light travel together to give you the complete experience.

14. Time to move on down the road: Moving On Down The Line.

15. And for our final lesson, that big white-haired dude in the sky has his say.

Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want; not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve better. No matter how many times you break down, there should always be a little voice inside you that says “NO, you’re not done yet! Get back up!” That’s the voice of passion and courage. Life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel; but you are well equipped for it as long as you tap into your talents and gifts, and allow them to flourish.

Today’s playlist contains some Alan Watts wisdom and several certified legends of the music scene. Cyndi Lauper leads out, Lady Gaga is next from that film. Alan’s wisdom follows, then a beautiful duet from Kate Perry and Ed Sheeran. I sneak some rock in with Evanescence next. The penultimate track is by the Walker Brothers and we complete with Roy Orbison: Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk.

Let’s learn from our regrets and conquer them so that Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included can flourish on the planet. Until we next meet, my dear friends.