October’s Weight
November has always been a complicated month for me. After the somber reflections of October—a month holding both the birth and death of my brother—I often find myself emotionally drained. October carries a weight that leaves me reflective, sometimes exhausted. As November arrives, it should signal joy: birthdays, Thanksgiving, and the start of the “happy season.” Yet for me, it often feels like the beginning of the heavy season.
Regret: A Familiar Companion
In my book “A Grief Journey” I write about the quiet weight of regret. As a widow, regret sometimes lingers in the empty spaces of my life—what I didn’t say or do, moments of silence after hard conversations, and the times I silenced my gut to keep the peace. Society encourages us to live with no regrets, but that’s a tall order. To be honest it is nearly impossible. Regret is a part of being human. It acknowledges our capacity for growth and transformation. Pretending otherwise only deepens the ache. I decided that I will not be ashamed to say I made mistakes and a few bad decisions in my life.
Turning Regret into Light
This November, I’ve decided to embrace my regrets—not to drown in them, but to learn from them. Each regret can illuminate new paths: a nudge toward courage, a reminder of honesty, and an invitation to trust my voice. Instead of letting regret steal joy, I am allowing it to guide me and asking myself: what is regret teaching me?
If regret has ever crept into your season, I invite you to pause and reflect. Write it down, name it, and consider the lessons hidden within. Regret doesn’t have to be a burden; it can be a gentle teacher, helping us speak when silence feels safer and act when fear tempts us to wait. This November, let’s honor our regrets, learning still, and illuminating our paths ahead.
Closing Thought: Regret is not my enemy. It is my teacher. And I am still learning. I invite you to share this blog and download the worksheet if you can relate.
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