“You may regret the things you’ve done, but you’ll regret a whole lot more the things you did not do”. The famous sentiment expressed by Mark Twain nearly two centuries ago. Many notables have capitalized on the same sentiment. Many of us know of J. Edgar Hoover, Barbara Bush, Lucille Ball, Marlene Monroe etc. more recent perhaps Simone Biles, (a gymnast). She possessed wisdom beyond her years. At age 19 in May 2016 she competed in Olympics.

I relate it to a Latvian poem I heard during World War II while in refugee camps. As I recall there were lamentations made in regard things done and not done.

A particular Latvian poem tells of an individual regretting.

“I paned to plow up a large field, however, did not manage done even a small corner.” “Planned to eat supper with my lively neighbors.” The bad weather interfered with my plans. It was too hot, it was too cold, in addition, it was too rainy, and too much snow and this and that…Perhaps I should not indulged in such a long noontime naps. Ah, yes the thought keeps returning to it, perhaps I should not have taken such long naps.

Yes, we search for excuses for thing not done. That is when regrets ensue. Remember life is for living with Gods’ Grace.

Val Hoover

Dublin, VA

Formerly of Marietta, OH