“Sometimes over things that I did . . . you go, ‘Why did you do that?’  But in the end, I can’t regret them because I met amazing people.  There was always something that was worth it.” — Robin Williams

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I was recently asked in an interview, “Is there anything you regret doing?”

My first response was to reply, “I think we all have things in life that we regret doing. Don’t you?”

At the age of 51, there are many things that I regret.  Things I wish I hadn’t said or done. Those things are in the past, though, and it does no good to dwell on them.  In fact, I had a very hard time answering the question.

We make mistakes, we learn from them and we move on.  Life cannot remain stagnant as it is ever changing. . . ever moving.  Time does not stop when we make a mistake.  We can apologize (often just to ourselves), we can learn from the experience and, we can hope to not repeat an experience.

Even in our darkest times, there are good and amazing things that happen IF we have the strength to look for them.  They may not be audaciously apparent at first, but over time, looking back . . . we can find the things that made even a bad experience worth it.  People, friendships, small overtures that may have seemed insignificant at the time — you look back and these are the amazing things and people that allowed you to survive or overcome.  These things are joy.  Perhaps bittersweet joy, but joy just the same.

A spectacular life consists of all aspects of life — the good, the bad and the ugly.  What makes it spectacular is your choice of response.  To find the good, to live boldly, to make a connection with others as well as a making a difference.  To use your talents to touch other’s lives, to share knowledge and love.

You only get one chance at this life . . . make it spectacular!