Regret is a terrible burden to carry. It tends to stoop the shoulders, bow the back, and bend the knees. It makes eye contact feel like intense interrogation. Missed opportunities, harsh words unleashed, broken promises, shattered dreams--these are some of the things most of us carry around. Somewhere in the back of our mind a little voices sings, "What if?" or "If only."
Little in this world is as effective at ripping open an old wound like a jog down memory lane. For those of you who have always made the right choices, memory lane is probably a great street to race down periodically. However, it isn't as pleasant for some. Photo albums are wonderful things to have, but they can also remind you of things you regret.
When you look back at those faces, places, and events stamped on paper, it can remind you of that awesome present you got when you were 12 and hoped you would be able to pass down to you kids (but eventually you broke). It can remind you of that time your family ran around the house playing a crazy version of tag, because of some goofy show you watched.
But photo albums can also remind you of words left unsaid. They can remind you of how fickle your heart is or how judgmental you can be. They remind you that life is made up of hundreds of moments--some good, some bad, some awesome, some terrible,--and that each is an opportunity to do more or be more than you think possible. They can also remind you of people that you have lost--some to death, others that just faded out of your life.
Have you ever experience a profound sense of melancholy when looking at a photo album? Do you find regret staring back at you from the pages of your scrapbook? How do you deal with regret?
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