This year has been a doozy. We've had missing airplanes and Nigerian girls. Shootings and riots. Ebola scares and elections. Abuse by NFL players and NBA owners. ISIS. Ukraine. Re establishing relations with Cuba. North Korea and The Interview.
We've had quite a few deaths this year. Actors Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Kiel and Richard Attenborough. Actresses Joan Rivers and Lauren Bacall. Musicians Joe Cocker and Tommy Ramone. Comedienne Jan Hooks. Artist H. R. Giger. Wrestler the Ultimate Warrior.
Personally, it's been a rough year. I've lost a job, gained one and lost it again. I've helped one kid move into her own apartment and another move to college. I've stretched out the distances of my running. At the beginning of the year, the farthest I'd run was a 5k (3.1 miles). In May, I ran a 10k (6.2 miles) and in October a half marathon (13.1 miles/21.1 km). I've been planning a trip for Disney World to run another half marathon. (That trip is next week.) I've reconnected with old friend, moved on from others and have made new friends around the world.
It's at times like this that I look back over my life and try to think of what I'd do differently. Would I make those same decisions if I had them to do again?
I've had a few regrets in my life. I should have stayed in college when I was younger. I went for two years and then dropped out, because I wanted to be with some girl. (OK, I married her and we're still together, but I should have stayed in college, and not spend my tuition money on an engagement ring.)
I should have waited to get married and have children. (Not that I regret having my wife and kids. I love them more than they'll ever know. I just think I should have waited until I was more mature. However, now that they're moving out and I'm still fairly young, I can enjoy them as adults and friends.)
I should have done whatever it took in order to keep my job. (Not that I liked that job. I hated it. It actually caused a lot of depression issues. I was nearly unbearable to live with because of those issues.)
Maybe what I'm saying is that we need to live without regrets. Even those things that I regret having done (or not done) have become positives in my life. I didn't finish college, but I married the love of my life. I married early, but have a longer lifetime to spend with her, my children and possibly grandkids. I lost a job, but I was miserable there and now have an opportunity to grow and be happier.
When I'm gone, what will my family remember of me? Will they remember that I didn't have a degree? Will they remember that I was unemployed for most of a year? Will they recall that I was only 20 years old when I got married and my wife was only 17?
Or will they remember me as a loving husband? A caring father? A loyal friend? Someone they could depend on when they needed me?
Try to think on how you want to be remembered and once you've found that out, do your best to live it.
I might not be world famous and be mourned by millions, but it's more important to me that those whom I love remember me well.
Happy New Year to you all. Live to make 2015 a year to remember.
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