I wish I had

Years ago, my friend and I were offered a Lottery ticket by an old street vendor as we were walking down the road. I declined while my friend bought it, taking pity on the man. Two days later, I came to know she won the jackpot with that ticket!  My head boiled, heart burned and I cursed myself. That lost moment; that missed opportunity, was too much to handle. I looked into the mirror and called myself names. I wish I had! Yes, I wished I had bought that ticket myself! 

Several moments of despair, dejection and depression later, I eventually overcame my sense of loss. The feeling of regret faded gradually as I passed it off as a one off incident. I told myself, I will be diligent next time. I will certainly grab the opportunity, should it appear again. 

But what if I don’t get a next time?  My mother and I used to have these conversations during her last days. During one of those sessions she told me, “I wish I had a second chance to live. I wish I had enjoyed my life more; I wish I had spent enough time on myself.” I could see the remorse in her eyes. As a woman, she had conducted herself very well and lived a full life. Yet she regretted having not made herself happy. 

My life changed with her passing. Her words changed my outlook towards life. I realized that I shouldn’t feel the same some twenty years hence. Most of us spend a lot of time thinking, working, shaping, setting, cooking, cleaning, correcting, spending, and focusing – only on our family. In the process do we tend to ourselves? Do we take some time off to think of our needs and necessities and the things that makes us happy? In our old age, should we give life a chance to ask ourselves, “Wish I had a second chance?” 

We need to create happiness and contentment within us instead of waiting for others to do it for us. Let us start loving ourselves and make our lives better than it is. We need to put US on our own priority list. When our children ask for something, we do it for them right? We need to satisfy the child within us too. How do we do that? Let us live each day like it’s our last... How do we go about doing that?  Follow your passion. If you don’t have one, identify something and work on it. You would soon be happy that you have achieved something on your own. 

Pamper yourself.  Its fine to spend a small budget on your whims and fancies and not feel guilty about it. Ignore things that you cannot change.  You are surrounded by all kinds of people and situations .Filter out and retain only those who make you happy.You can’t do anything about the rest…

Steve jobs, one of the richest men who ever walked the planet said, "Going to bed saying we have done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me". Let us do something wonderful too. Let us celebrate each moment. Let us congratulate ourselves for every achievement, be it small or big. Let us smile and laugh at every opportunity. Let us see only the goodness around. Let us tell ourselves; come hail or storm, we will be happy, every moment. Oprah Winfrey said, “The more you celebrate your life, The more there is in life to celebrate...”