Sunday, September 21, 2008

Live Your Life with No Regrets!

Hey y'all! I know I haven't posted in QUITE a while, which is actually rather ironic considering the title of my last blog! But anyway, I just had these thoughts running through my head this morning and thought I'd jot them down. I was getting ready for church and kept running over and over a situation with my kids yesterday during a party we hosted and regretting how I'd handled it (or rather didn't handle it well enough). It was nothing major, a small disciplinary issue with my kids. But afterwards I was, and continued being all night long, totally self-conscious about what kind of parent my friends were thinking I was (too strict, too lax, I should let up, I should whip them into shape, etc) and I hated that feeling. I hate feeling that sick ick in my stomach when I have regret. And I use that word carefully because I usually pride myself on not having regret. I firmly believe that my life and the person I am, is the sum total of my experiences and my decisions. So, today I reminded myself that I can't have regrets. I should just make a decision to handle that situation differently next time and move on. My friends, who are truly my friends, will continue to love me and will forgive my flaws. So, below are the thoughts that I jotted down and thought I'd share. I hope you all had a Wonderfully God Blessed weekend!

PS - I'll offer a real update into the lives of the Marzullos later on.... soon, hopefully.


Live Your Life with No Regrets

Live your life with no regrets! That doesn’t mean live your life like there’s no tomorrow, living with abandon. That means live life honestly, loyally, truly. Love your husband intently in case tomorrow doesn’t come. Smother your kids and drive them up the wall by kissing them and hugging them and chasing them around to pinch their little tooshies!! Tell all of your loved ones how special they are and how much of an impact they've had on your life. Write them a note - they'll probably cherish if forever. Be smart with your money. Live BELOW your means. Create margin in your life.

Living without regret also doesn’t mean letting opportunity pass you by. Don't live in a box like a hermit because you're being too frugal or too serious or working yourself to death. Have fun! Smartly budget your money and your time so that when opportunity does come along you can freely, at the drop of a hat (or at least with minimal effort), go on that vacation, buy that car, have that fun gadget, go to that show. You should be able to enjoy life and feel truly happy and free, rather than trapped or burdened. Get out of debt! Stay out of debt!

When necessary, swallow your pride and say you’re sorry. Keep open communication so that if someone else needs to say they’re sorry, they can realize the hurt they’ve caused (possibly without knowing) and can right the wrong. Don’t hold grudges - grudges are poison to your body and spirit. Give second chances.

Love Yourself!!! We are always our own worst enemy! After having been stretched to such enormous lengths by three pregnancies (one of which was large twins), I realize that my previous dislike of my figure before kids was unnecessary and too harsh and never again will I have that body back. So I have to love the one I'm in now.

Let God Love You! He already loves you. We're the ones who can't forgive ourselves for our misdeeds. Letting someone else love us and forgive us is sometimes very hard to do... but He wants you to let Him!

If you're like me and have a two-second memory (on a good day!), learn to appreciate your SHORT short-term memory. Sometimes being naive is great, especially when it means you let go of and forget the things that had upset you so much in the moment.

So, think about it. Do it. Live Your Life with No Regret!!!