>
>LEAVING THE CITY OF REGRET
>
>I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet, I
>found myself
>packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I
>knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I'm talking about my
>annual "Guilt Trip".
>I got tickets to fly there on "WISHIHAD" airlines. It was an extremely
>short flight. I got my baggage, which, I could not check. I chose to
>  carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand
>memories of what
>might have been.
>No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City
>International Airport.
>I say international because people from all over the world come to this
>dismal town. As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that
>they would be hosting the year's most important  event, the Annual
>Pity Party.
>I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns
>leading citizens would be there. First, there would be the Done family,
>  you know, Should Have, Would Have and 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 too many of them to count, but
>  each one would have a very sad story to share. Then Shattered Dreams
>would surely make an appearance. And It's Their Fault would regale us
>  with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and
>each
>story would be loudly applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help
>  It.
>Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party
>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 brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this
>  trip and subsequent "pity party" could be canceled by ME! I started
>to realize that I did not have to be there. I didn't have to be
>depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, "I can't change
>  yesterday, but I do have the power to make today a wonderful day". I
>can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging.
>Knowing this,
>I left the city of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am
>I sorry for the mistakes I've made in the past? YES! But there is no
>physical
>way to undo them.
>So, if you are planning a trip to the city of Regret, please cancel all
>your reservations
>now.
>Instead, take a trip to a place called Starting Again. I liked it so
>much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors,
>  the I Forgive Myself and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the
>way, you don't have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is
>lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. You too, can find this  new
>town, just ask the Lord to show you the way. Now I live on I CANDOIT
>street.