There are no "do overs" in life, Kids!!

I guess I am a boring guy.....I can't honestly point at one day in my life and say, "Wow, I shouldn't have shot that guy", or  "If  I only had stayed home instead of driving drunk".  I can't look back and say "I should have known better than to go to that party" or "I shouldn't have been hanging out with those people".  My wife and kids think I come off sounding like a major league jerk when this type of discussion comes around, and they may be right, but I usually feel compelled to explain my point of view.  Problem is, my point of view is not popular.  I honestly believe that, in the vast majority of cases, people bring those hardships, those terrible things in their lives, on themselves.

We are talking here about a day you would like to have back, so that presupposes that you could control the outcome if the day were re-lived.  No killing Hitler at the 1936 Olympics.  No disabling the planes on the tarmac on 9/11.  You can't stop Grandpa from having a heart attack.    We are talking about a decision you made, something you played a part in, that if you had it to do all over again, you would do differently.

Talking about those types of things always gets me going.....I firmly believe that we need to keep ourselves out of places that could be dangerous in the first place.  Avoid situations that are less than smart.  For example, If you don't hang out with criminals, you won't need to take back that one and only robbery you participated in.  If you don't hang out in bars getting drunk, or (for some) try to pick up strangers for short term gratification, you will avoid a myriad of potential "take back" wishes, won't you? You won't regret  that "one night stand", that disease, that ruined marriage, that drunk driving incident.

We can still have fun without hanging out at "pick up joints"or "shooting galleries".  You can leave if the party makes you uncomfortable. If you are not hanging out in a place where most are there to "pick up" a stranger, it makes the decision not to be someone's "pick up" a lot easier, doesn't it?

There are no "do overs" in life.  No matter what the decision is, learn to assess the available information, make a decision, and choose wisely.  It is nobody else's fault if you choose like a fool.  The rest of us shouldn't have to pay the price. 

Nope, there are no "do overs" in life.  Your decisions are yours and you have to live with them.  I can;t make your decisions for you, and I shouldn't have to help you pay the penalties for them.     My best advise for you parents out there is to Teach your kids to make better decisions, and try to follow your own advise while you are at it.