When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us. – Alexander Graham Bell

Bell’s quote is very interesting to me.  We’ve all heard the quote about one door closing and another opening, but Bell’s quote to me is talking about regrets.  Regrets are a waste of time.  Seriously. Don’t do it.

Decisions are hard and choices can be scary. Even the simplest choice like should I have chocolate ice cream or cookie dough can be a big one.  Why? Because you get caught up in the fear of making the wrong choice and then come the regrets.  No matter how good that chocolate ice cream may be, all you can think about is how you should have had the cookie dough.  In the end, you don’t end up enjoying the yummy scoop of chocolate ice cream that is sitting right in front of you.

I realize the ice cream example is rather simplistic, but it works.  We can get so caught up in worrying about would have, could have and should haves, that we forget to enjoy what we have.  The same thing happens when a situation comes to an end.  We can get so caught up in missing what we used to have that we miss what may be right in front of us.  Endings are hard, and sometimes their painful.  It’s normal to want to look back at what you had, but when you do, you run the chance of finding something new and equally as wonderful, or maybe even better.

Regrets are a waste of time.  They don’t change anything.  They don’t make you feel better, in fact, they probably make you feel worse.  So don’t waste your time regretting what was.  Open your eyes and look for your newest adventure.