She didn’t know he had prospects, she didn’t know he could ever become anything great in life.

She had suffered so much growing up in a family where the father was totally irresponsible and the mother labored very hard to raise all seven children.

She grew up dreading getting married to an indolent man who wouldn’t live up to his responsibilities.

She was also daily told by her mother to be careful in choosing who to marry and shouldn’t be blinded by feeling like she was. Her mum wouldn’t cease to remind her that marriage is much more than feelings, it’s a commitment to great responsibilities.

She suffered so much lack, deprivation, shame and disgrace as the first child and daughter because she had a lazy and uncaring father, her mother provided everything for seven children.

While at the university she had only two pairs of jeans with a collection of many second hand tops, she went hungry most days and couldn’t afford to buy books, handouts and many things she needed in school.

She suffered a great deal hence after graduation and securing a fine job with an up class bank, she became very careful and sensitive in matters of relationship and marriage.

If she saw any traces of indolence and complacency in any suitor, that suitor had no chance whatsoever.

Victor was a good looking and charming young man who desperately wanted to marry this girl, but Victor didn’t have a job and wasn’t searching for one, Victor wanted to be a photographer, he was passionate about photography, he was then, broke and not money conscious, and instantly this lady ruled him out as unserious and immature.

She really loved Victor but the memories of her poverty, her father’s irresponsibility and the words of her mum wouldn’t let her commit to him in marriage.

Now she’s thirty eight and still single.
Victor on the other hand pursued his photography dream and today, is one of the most sought after photographer in Hollywood USA.

He is extremely rich and famous, she however is still in the bank, working hard, still single, still searching.

She is full of regrets, she wished she said yes to Victor. Her fears misled her, now she carries a huge burden of regret.

Ladies and gentlemen, as ordinary people we are imperfect in our ways, thoughts, judgments and perceptions.
We sometimes miscalculate, assume things, criticize and take wrong steps based on our desires, our fears our insecurities and basic human instincts.

I’m sure there are many things you’ve done in time past and you desperately wish you could turn back the hands of time and correct things.

Some of us messed up great opportunities, great friendships, great relationships, great employments, lucrative business opportunities and even decisions that could change our trajectory for good permanently.

Some of us offended our parents, our care givers, our sincere and kind friends, and even soul mates. Some of us betrayed the love of our lives, we cheated and lost the best spouses we could ever have and out of selfish interests, sold out and betrayed people that sincerely wanted the best for us.

Some of us missed it in marriage, married the worst kind of spouses and have been living in regret for all the years in marriage. Many have broken marriages, broken relationships and broken hearts.

Some of us wished we were there for a dear and loved one but took things for granted and they passed away, got into an accident or something terribly went wrong with them because we didn’t show up to do our part.

Some of us have regrets over the sins of our past, the crimes of our pasts and the evil deeds of our past that have maimed, tamed, destroyed or permanently damaged an innocent person and you can’t just forgive yourself.

Many people today are living under the burden of regret.

Dear friend, yes you made the mistake, yes you did the wrong thing, you didn’t treat the person well, you handled the situation wrongly, you bungled the opportunity and you’ve totally made a mess of what could have been the best for you today.

However, the worst thing you can do to yourself is to become enslaved to the acts of your past.

The past is something you can do nothing about. You can’t change it, you can’t reverse it, you can alter it, you can’t even go back there.

Letting the acts of your past disturb, truncate, mitigate or derail the possibilities of your future is not a wise decision.

Dear friend, let it go. What’s done is done, if you still choose to live in yesterday you’ll lack enough emotional and psychological energy to build a great tomorrow.

Everything in life is for a reason and a purpose, even all your mistakes, miscalculations and errors have something great it can contribute to your future. Your past is not supposed to stop you, no, it’s supposed to inspire, motivate and fire you unto greater abilities, determination and resilience to conquer your tomorrow. The authenticity of a great and glorious future is cultivated and embedded in the pains and mistakes of the past.

Dear friend, drop that weight of regret, stop rehearsing it, reciting it, meditating on it and reviewing it. Take your mind and attention off your past and begin to think up strategies and ways to build a greater and more rewarding tomorrow.

Regret does no one no good. No one enjoys a life of regret.
No mind is actively creative when burdened with regret.
Yes, you meant well but they hurt you, you gave them your all but they betrayed you, you sacrificed everything and they trampled on it, you did all you could to make it work but they didn’t appreciate and they hurt you badly and treated you nasty and enslaved you based on your passion and love for them.

He jilted you after many years, she walked out on you after so many years, he promised to love you forever but became abusive after marriage, you have your regrets, sure we all do, but the reaction is not to be burdened by it, the right reaction is to be inspired, empowered and propelled by it to do something greater, better and more profitable with our lives and future.

Today is the beginning of the rest of your life, it is wisdom to die to the regrets of yesterday and be alive to a great and glorious future.

Drop the weight of regret and engulf your mind with the great thoughts and possibilities of an exciting rewarding future.

What do you want your future to be like?
What are your dreams for a great tomorrow?
It’s time to dream, plan, strategize, build connections develop capacity and activate a beautiful future.
Don’t wait for life to happen to you, choose to happen to life, create your own future, don’t leave it to chance and luck, build the kind of future you want, don’t let the regrets of your past poison the potential of your tomorrow.
Be strong, stand up right, lift up your head, push out your chest, be courageous, bold; confident and take on your future, with gait, determination and uncommon style.

Let go of yesterday, conquer your tomorrow.

FRANKLY SPEAKING WITH MUYIWA AFOLABI

http://www.muyiwaafolabi.com/today-frankly-speaking-burden-regret/