To my mind, regret is about things a person has done that might have been done differently. These things can be relational, of course, but losing people to death (as opposed to misbehavior) causes me to mourn but not regret. Regret, in other words, has an element of self-criticism or shame.
This is great. I agree fully, no regrets is unbelievable. I had to google grandma camp. Have to admit, having no grandchildren - guess I’m a grandchildless cat lady!- I don’t think I’m going to regret missing grandma camp. 🤷🏻♀️☮️
Jessica, I really like your writing, your intelligence and the way you draw on the world as a whole. I think it might have been Adrienne Rich who first said that the personal is political. But you know that.
I don't see "mistakes" as mistakes or regrets. Sure they were - and continue to be - painful. But they keep getting me onto the next step. Somehow the journey of my life - I know how new age California that sounds - couldn't have been possible without all of them.
For me, regrets are for the young, who might still do something about it.
Regrets have become laughable as I age, as most of them involve some kind of pompous imaginings of what might have been if only . . .
So many of mine are about people I’ve lost.
To my mind, regret is about things a person has done that might have been done differently. These things can be relational, of course, but losing people to death (as opposed to misbehavior) causes me to mourn but not regret. Regret, in other words, has an element of self-criticism or shame.
This is great. I agree fully, no regrets is unbelievable. I had to google grandma camp. Have to admit, having no grandchildren - guess I’m a grandchildless cat lady!- I don’t think I’m going to regret missing grandma camp. 🤷🏻♀️☮️
Thank you!
Jessica, I really like your writing, your intelligence and the way you draw on the world as a whole. I think it might have been Adrienne Rich who first said that the personal is political. But you know that.
I don't see "mistakes" as mistakes or regrets. Sure they were - and continue to be - painful. But they keep getting me onto the next step. Somehow the journey of my life - I know how new age California that sounds - couldn't have been possible without all of them.
Oh, thanks, Joyce. Means a lot coming from you.