I love watching sunsets. Sometimes there is beauty, but always there is closure.
Mourning the passing of a loved one is painful. It feels much like a fading sunset.
Yet I do know that mourning the passing of a loved one is “easier” when there are few regrets. That is, when there has been opportunity to clear up misunderstandings … when there has been time for forgiveness and acceptance.
I once had the privilege of meeting an elderly woman named Ruth Jones. Her life had not been easy and her current circumstances involved those who were probably taking undue advantage of her. Her response to those uncaring relatives was forgiveness. Ruth told me that it was more important to forgive than hold on to angry thoughts. “No regrets, no regrets,” she kept repeating. Ruth died within the year, but that message has stayed with me these many decades later.
Ruth’s lesson has helped me understand that a Joy-Filled life involves seeking for those places in our relationships where hard feelings might be festering.
And once identified, dealing with these feelings. Life is unpredictable and maybe now is the only chance to mend the emotional bridges.
Let go of the Bruised Ego. Just accept and forgive.
Just start by:
- Accepting those who have hurt us.
- Accepting that our parents, children, friends are not perfect and in most cases are just doing the best that they can.
- Accepting that our loved ones’ life purpose just might not be to meet our every need.
Maybe our life purpose is to accept and forgive others’ inability to perfectly understand us.
Just get over ourselves and practice love. No regrets.
And when we come to that Sunset – No regrets.
So, my Dear Ones, in this moment… accept…forgive… your family members … your friends … your work associates … your neighbors … and … yourself.
Thank you, Ruth, for such a mighty lesson.
What a sweet and joyful way to live: No regrets, no regrets……
