One of the more elusive of the twelve step promises is that “We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it”. To those of us who have caused pain to the ones we love, as a result of our addictive behavior, it can be hard to reconcile how we might come to “not regret the past”. However, each day that I am able to share “what it was like, what happened, and what things are like now” with another in need, the truth of that promise becomes clearer to me. Do I still have regrets? I would be less than honest to say no. But I have faith in the program and the promises, so today I will embrace my past to help another, and trust that one day – “I will not regret… in God’s timing”.
How profound, but difficult to do in our own strength. I hope one day I overcome that regret and count it all as blessings.
Thank you for sharing! It is challenging for me to not regret some decisions I made in the past especially with trusting people. It makes me sometimes feel inadequate and not a good judge of character. It has also taught me that trust can not be expected to be reciprocated. People will break your trust and it will shake you. It has made me cautious.
The most liberating thought is that your conscience is clean and I may have not been the best judge of character but I did not hurt anyone. Which makes me smile everyday and be proud of myself.
Thank you for sharing, Mehwish! To have a smile everyday is truly a gift. And your share put a smile on my face today! 🙂