This morning I wanted to write about regrets and remorses.
I don't know why. Not rationally, at least.
Maybe it's because I read a quote from Cesare Pavese, an Italian writer and poet. He wrote, "We do not remember days; we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten."
These words made me reflect on the importance of creating memorable moments in our lives. I'm flying to India this evening for what will surely be one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
Then, I remember listening to a podcast about the discoveries of Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse who collected the epiphanies of dying people during her many years working in palliative care. She wrote a famous book about her learnings called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.
Whenever I come across Ware's work, I tell myself I don't want to end my life with regrets. I don't want to end up sad or disappointed for all the things that could have been but hadn't due to my choices.
And then, I realise that I have no way to prevent that.
At the end of any journey, I will have remorse and regrets.
Or maybe not.
If I acknowledge that all the things I didn't do, and even the ones I did wrong, were all essential to creating the moments I remember.