Bad day
I had a bad day yesterday. I don't really want to say what it was about but it had to do with my focus and I just couldn't change it for some reason, no matter how hard I tried.
I got up this morning, checked my mail and I read this message that couldn't have come at a better time. Funny how that works! This is what it said:
Leaving the City of Regret===========================I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, andyet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip wasgoing to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real goodwould 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 itmyself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousandmemories of what might have been.No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret CityInternational Airport. I say international because people fromall over the world come to this dismal town.As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that theywould be hosting the year's most important event, the AnnualPity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion.Many of the town's leading citizens would be there.First, there would be the Done family, you know,Should Have,Would Haveand 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 Yesterday's. There are far toomany of them to count, but each one would have a very sad storyto share.Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance. And It'sTheir Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about howthings had failed in his life, and each story would be loudlyapplauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It.Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressingparty 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 broughtback from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip andsubsequent "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 mymind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKETODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well asencouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regretimmediately 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, pleasecancel all your reservations now.Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I likedit so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are sovery helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavybaggage 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.~by Larry Harp~
I got up this morning, checked my mail and I read this message that couldn't have come at a better time. Funny how that works! This is what it said:
Leaving the City of Regret===========================I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, andyet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip wasgoing to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real goodwould 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 itmyself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousandmemories of what might have been.No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret CityInternational Airport. I say international because people fromall over the world come to this dismal town.As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that theywould be hosting the year's most important event, the AnnualPity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion.Many of the town's leading citizens would be there.First, there would be the Done family, you know,Should Have,Would Haveand 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 Yesterday's. There are far toomany of them to count, but each one would have a very sad storyto share.Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance. And It'sTheir Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about howthings had failed in his life, and each story would be loudlyapplauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It.Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressingparty 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 broughtback from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip andsubsequent "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 mymind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKETODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well asencouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regretimmediately 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, pleasecancel all your reservations now.Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I likedit so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are sovery helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavybaggage 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.~by Larry Harp~
Replies
Bob that is beautiful! I will be passing this one on!
Bob, that is great. Hope you are feeling better. You know, people around you may not show they may be going through something - apparently I never have, because everyone always says I look so happy!! It isn\'t easy being an adult!
Take care.
I have read this about 3 times so far and will probably read it again. It\'s a pretty good description of where my mind was at yesterday. I have been dragged to many pity paries by my ex. So glad to be able to say \"no I don\'t want to go there anymore!\" What a relief! Hugs!
Great story, Bob-I love how the right words can come at just the right time, if you are open to them xxx
Yes, just have to be observant and be able to put two and two together. :)