Thanks for this!
Jeremy Gilley
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Ferguson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 6:05 PM
Subject: LEAVING THE CITY OF REGRET


> >
>>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.