Monday, May 02, 2005

Am I Smarter?

Am author of a blog I read, G. Dawney discussed being smarter as we get older. She mentioned the Vietnam Vet who spit on Jane Fonda and how this man was so bitter about what Jane had done many years ago. On one hand I can see why he would be so very upset but on the other hand, maybe she really is very sorry for what she did. How many of us have done or said things when we were younger that if only Father Time would allow, we'd change? I, myself, have some I can think of and would change. Maybe my life would have turned out differently, maybe not. My friend, M and my treatment of her is the first thing I would change. I've always felt I let her down back by not keeping in touch for many years. I have no excuse and to me, it always looms like a white elephant in the room that I can't talk about. She and I were inseparable for so many years and I can't believe I just walked away from that. I hope she forgives me.

7 comments:

Sue said...

I'm sure she does. I would like to think that I am getting smarter as I get older, but my 17 year old keeps reminding me of how "stupid" I am. I forget that I once knew it all too. Now there is so much that I want to know and read, and just not enough time in the day to do it all! Oh well.

Kim said...

Regret is a horrid thing. Worse, there isn't much you can do about it. It would be nice to be able to though, wouldn't it?

Tammy said...

Would I ever change some things... bur all Ie can do is ask forgiveness, make things as right as I can and move forward... FWIW, I have a friend like this... she is so good at keeping in touch now. Hasn't always been, but it's so nice... she makes me work hard to remember her special times, lol!!! But it's ok...we've talked about it. (((((Hugs)))) to you... and YOU are smart!!!!

Sandi said...

I like to believe that we never stop learning as we get older. As far as regrets go, I like to tally them up and say oh well, there's always next lifetime to do those things.

joerevs300 said...

Jane Fonda has been anti-war for years. No, I don't agree with a guy (or girl) spitting on anyone...but she's not someone I would call a patriotic American.

Jules said...

I recently watched Jane talk on CNN with Larry King about that moment in time, and how it was perceived by the media, and what she actually meant by it. She certainly didn't intend to appear anti-American, only anti-war. Sometimes people blur the difference. I can easily forgive Jane (if she even needs my personal forgiveness), partly because I certainly don't consider myself un-American for my views on the current war in Iraq, but some people might think that of me. I cringe when I see "Support Our Troops" ribbons on cars, only because I would argue that "Supporting our Troops" can also mean "Bring them home alive" But times don't change all that much, and too often failing to go with the status quo is always perceived as anti-American, when I consider it merely being a sheep following the herd. Sheep, for the record, are not smart animals.

It's important that we use what regret we have to not repeat the mistakes of our youth. As a friend used to say to me, "A lesson will be repeated until it is learned." That's what makes us smart is not repeating our mistakes over an over, but forgiving ourselves and moving on. There isn't room here to talk about every mistake I've learned from, but I too have lost a friend I didn't have to lose, and it's something that if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have handled it the same way.

Nice post.

Melody said...

I often wonder how changing events in my life may have changed the person that I am today. What if's can drive you crazy. Regrets can suck the life out of you. Living in the past can rob you of a future. New beginnings are where it's at. Happiness can keep you young.