Eight Regrets

This is the time of year for resolutions. The start of a new year to better yourself and change bad habits. Well, I've never really been a resolution type of person. I never stick to them for any notable amount of time and my list is always way longer than I can handle.

So rather, let's talk about regrets. Not that I think anyone should have any, but a recent convo with friends made this post seem worthy. Sounds kinda negative, doesn't it? Well yes, but with these regrets, will come a positive goal or something I will strive for. Not necessarily something I will change about my life or make happen this year, but things I want to shoot for in the future.

First things first. I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason." Take chances, make spontaneous decisions, live adventurously, regret nothing, blah blah blah.

But really, I truly believe that everything we endure or experience is a moment in life we were meant to live. It's all of these life lessons and experiences that mold us into the people we are.

Ok, cut the cheesy crap. What things in life do you regret? Something years ago, something yesterday? Maybe something big, maybe something small?

Whatever it is, there's got to be something you wish might have happened differently, something you didn't give up, or something you would change if you could.

With that said, I thought I would share some of mine.

1. Giving up piano lessons
Yep, I took piano lessons for several years. And I gave it up. Because at the time...boys, cheerleading and shopping with my friends at Claire's was more important. What was I thinking!? I would give anything to be a piano playing diva today.

My momma was a piano player, and still can play well. In fact, we used to play Fur Elise together. I would watch her use the pedals as she played the harder part. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Goal: Let's be real, I'm not going to pick back up piano lessons any time soon or anything, so my musically-related goal is to sing at church. And sing well. This might sound really dumb to some of you, but it's my goal. I don't typically make much of an effort to open the book and join along in the songs, so now I will. 

2. Staying close with old friends
I think everyone experiences this at one time or another in their life. My situation happens to be with my high school friends. Don't get me wrong, I love my college friends who have become the best friends I could ever ask for, but it doesn't make me miss some of my hs friends any less. I know there will always be people that come in and out of our lives, but I really miss some of them and the times we shared.

Goal: Make trips back to Wichita not just to see the fam. Make time for lunch, coffee and visits with my fav Ta-town peeps.

3. Living out-of-house my junior year
Although I had a blast being one of the girls with an "out-of-house," the keg parties and beer-stocked refrigerator just wasn't enough for me to keep this one off my list.

I will never forget my sophomore year of college. The year I lived in. The year I shared everything with my sisters. My best friends.

Blue hall. Hampsters. Hanging out in the Blue Lou. Watching The Bachelor in the Rec room. Water balloon fight with the house boys from the study room, Louise & Zaneida. The choo choo skit and being a Chi-O rocker. Class drop offs because we were too lazy to walk. Snow ball fight at ATO. Bursting. Phone & Door. Sneaking in the kitchen late at night because we had the munchies. Date parties. Test files. Fish bowls at Fats. Flip cup tourneys. That wretched blue bathroom. Getting on the speaker and yelling obscenities. Talking about Omega Men. Waking up next to my girlfriends to talk about what happened the night before.

And that's not even half of the memories. The memories that will never be forgotten.

Goal: Give back to the Chi-O house by donating $$. It's only necessary for how much it has given me.

4. Zig zag part
Yes, I had a zig zag part my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Again, what was I thinking!? I thought it was cool. Something I will never live down. LOL.

No goal for this one:) This was just for fun.

5. The way I treated my parents as a teen
This one is really hard for me to admit and talk about. Simply because I am so embarrassed by the way I acted and treated my mother and father when I was a sassy, know-it-all, rude brat of a teenager. Even worse, my hs friends witnessed my horrible actions on occasion.

I swear, if I am given a little girl someday, and she is even half of the bitch I was, I'll take it. Because I deserve it. I'm sure I won't like it, but oh do I deserve it. I love you mom and dad. You have given me so much and I am so thankful for you. Sorry for what I put you through.

Goal: Do something big for my parents. Like take them on a vacation or something. I don't have the money for this now, but someday I will. I vow to do something really nice for them.

6. Lack of faith during college
I think about this one a lot. I'm sure others have fallen victim to it as well, but it's no excuse. One year at K-State, I think I only went for Ash Wednesday, Christmas and Easter. I was a terrible catholic.

Goal: I think this will continue to be a goal of mine until the day I die. Go to mass every week! No excuses!

7. Moving to Denver
Another one that is really hard for me to admit. And probably even harder for my hubby to hear. But he already knows how I feel about it.

When Brian graduated a semester before me, he really wanted to move to Denver. He had three interviews in Denver and one in KC. He chose KC because of me. We weren't engaged at the time, but he knew I wanted to stay close to family. I didn't pressure him into choosing and I would have followed him to the mountains, but he stayed because he knew it's what I wanted more. Brian, if you're reading, I love you.

Goal: Live in Denver someday. I'm bound to make it happen for my hubby.

8. The Rest
For all the other things I did that I regret. Missing out on a family trip because something else was more important at the time, not being nice to all my classmates in high school, allowing myself to get peer pressured into doing things I shouldn't have, dating a psycho in hs (I'm not kidding), The Goodnight Line (you know who you are!), for all the times I made someone feel unappreciated, when I didn't accomplish things I know I could have.

There are many more regrets I could add to this, but I'll keep the rest to myself:).

Goal: Be a better person. And take the time to tell people I love them. Simple as that.

What are your regrets or things you would change? Think about them and write them down. It really does inspire you to be a better person. Happy Hump Day!