No Regrets

Monday, February 11, 2013

For the most part, people are pretty free with advice giving. All you really have to do is bring up a conundrum on virtually any subject to most any person, and advice on said dilemma will be shared. Some advice is welcome and requested; some is welcome though not requested; and some (a lot when it comes to certain topics or certain advice-givers) is neither welcome nor requested.
Just as the advice varies, so does what we choose to do with the advice. Will it just go in one ear and out the other? {Like when someone told me that holding my sleeping newborn would spoil her and create a bad sleeper.} Will we give it a half hearted try? {Like the advice I was given to do a load of laundry every night.} Will we both try it and share it with others? {Can't tell enough people about the healing power of breast milk on pink eye!} 
Over ten years ago, I was given a piece of advice that I not only used (and shared), but I have thought of many times since and extended its use far beyond the subject matter for which it was given. The scenario was simple and so was the advice: I was debating whether or not to go the gym one afternoon, and my friend said, 'You never regret working out.' She was right. I hadn't ever left the gym and thought, 'Man, I wish I hadn't done that.' But many, many, many times I'd gotten to the end of a day and wished I had made my way to the gym. That advice lead me to drag my lazy booty into the gym many times when motivation wasn't coming easy.
Many years later, that simple piece of advice has reached far beyond my friend's intentions. I think of the words, 'You'll never regret' quite often, but I complete the phrase and am prompted to action in a variety of ways.
You'll I'll never regret... 
  • Blogging.
  • Snuggling.
  • Slowing down.
  • Drinking water.
  • Going to church.
  • Biting my tongue.
  • Practicing patience.
  • Holding on to a hug.
  • Making a new friend.
  • Teaching. Guiding. Learning.
  • Reading an extra bedtime story.
  • Listening. Helping. Encouraging.
  • Taking my shower before the girls get up.
  • Putting on lip gloss. Curling my eyelashes.
  • Packing lunches at night. Laying out clothes.
  • Praying. Talking to God and listening for His voice. 
  • Saying 'I made a mistake' or 'I'm sorry' or 'I'm proud of you' or 'I love you.' 
And, yes, working out. 
It's funny. 
Many of the items listed above were realized because of times when I did not do them. 
{I've often wished I'd held that hug a little longer.}
The advice was simple; its implication, great. 
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