“Make the most of your regrets,” Henry David Thoreau once said. “Never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh.”
Yesterday, I wrote about five things I would attempt to save if my house was burning down. Reflecting on the contradictory definitions a “spark,” I focused more on the fire than its aftermath. Its so easy to do in the heat of the moment. Why is it that in so many cases we don’t appreciate what we have until its gone?
Today, I realized all of the precious things I left behind. Practical things came to mind like my warm doggie bed and my Packer jersey. But I know those are replaceable. They’re just things.
Far more devastating are the memories lost in the ashes. I’ll never forget the first day my parents brought me home and let me explore my new house. All those hours spent playing fetch with Mrs. Prickles in the hallway. The first day mom let me come up on the bed. Money can’t buy back these memories.
I take a two-fold lesson from this experiment in thought. (See, there is always a silver lining).
1) Savor the small things. There are so many ways to lose sight of the importance of special moments in our lives. But there is a reason money can’t buy memories. Moments are priceless. There are groundbreaking days when major milestones make things easy to remember, but as Sarah Ban Breathnach points out in Simple Abundance “there is a lot of drudgery in most days.” These are the days we need to seek out joy in the small things.
2) Respect the past as preparation for the future. It’s all too easy to take things for granted. If we surrender to life’s simplicities and appreciate what we have on a daily basis, the future will be that much brighter. “I never regret anything,” says actress Drew Barrymore, “because every little detail of your life is what made you into who you are in the end.”
It is with my past in a special place in my heart that I find faith in the future. With faith as my fuel, I know my dreams will always be more exciting than my memories.
Today’s post is dedicated to Mandy Atkielski.
Eighteen-year-old Mandy entered doggie heaven yesterday. She will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
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Wiley's Wisdom 
Yay for stay at home Dads! Especially when they have treats and tennis balls!
He did have treats and tennis balls! I lost interest in the tennis ball pretty quickly on account of the heat, but I never (ever) tire of treats. 🙂
Great bonding opportunity for you and dad!
I thought so. 🙂
I think dad needs you now more than ever he just pretends that he is coping! Enjoy comforting him. 🙂
I love comforting him. 🙂
🙂
If you’re anything like Cally, when your Mom comes home, you’ll sit on her lap, sleep on her ankles or knees and basically not let her out of your sight for a day or four 🙂 This is exactly what Cally does when I come back after few days away.
Cally sounds like my kind of gal. 😉
Yes, Wiley! Being attached to Mom is important, but sadly these things happen. I am bearing the transfer of love too, while Mom is in the hospital. Now I cuddle and follow Victoria, my babysitter. It is fun making her happy, but it will feel good when things are back to normal.
We agree with Cupcake, we love “normal” routines and when something changes, we do not do well. I hope your Mommy gets out of the hospital soon! Give her a hug for me!
I’m with Nikita…so scared to hear about Cupcake’s mom! I am thinking of you and hoping and praying all gets back to normal soon.
How can he resist if you turn on the full charm offensive?
I love that way of wording it – full charm offensive! Too perfect. 🙂
I dislike the suitcase-thingy and days without mom are wasted days for me – it’s not bad with dad, but it isn’t the same…
I know what you mean friend. Give a special hug to your mom for me today, would you? 🙂
Enjoy it and have fun fo rhte next couple of days!
🙂
When Momz gets out the suitcase I just park myself by the door and I don’t move till it’s time to go…Sometimes it really works 😉
I love that strategy…glad to hear it works for you!
Wiley, that is one of your best pictures yet! Lovely sheets! You do know your Mom is missing you something fierce as well, right? Sshh, it goes both ways, Wyles. Wait and see, when she comes through the front door, she will be all over you making up for the lost days of hugs and kisses. HuntMode
Ah, the magic of forever love. Thanks SO much for being so special to me. Lots of love to the entire HuntMode family.
Oh, Wyles, you make it so easy to be so special to you. Grin.
😉
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“To regret deeply is to live afresh.”