What is Your Biggest Regret? Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Issue 351

What is Your Biggest Regret?

A brave individual put a blackboard in a public park with just that question scrawled across the top waiting to see what passersby would write on the board. The board quickly filled up.

“Not saying I love you.”
“Burning bridges.”
“Not staying in touch.”
“Not being a better friend.”

By the end of the day, the project creator noticed a common theme among the responses. The regrets were all about chances not taken, words not spoken, and dreams never pursued.

Today, is Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, where worshippers recite our communal litany of regrets aloud. Today is not about hiding from our regrets or dwelling in them – it is about transforming them. What do all people of the world share? We accept that we are human. We make mistakes. But we are all reminded that we can seek forgiveness and make amends.

This past week, a Dallas police officer was convicted of murdering an unarmed man who was sitting in his apartment, on his sofa, enjoying some ice cream, when the officer inadvertently entered the apartment thinking it was her residence. Fearing he was an intruder, she opened fire and killed him on the spot. After sentencing, the victim’s brother asked to hug the officer and offered his forgiveness to her. Speaking only for himself, he wished her well, to find spirituality in her religion and to be forgiven.

Amazing.

Imagine if we all could live with compassion, love and forgiveness to others?

Let’s take today to examine not only who we are but examine what we are hoping to become. It’s hard work but strengthening our relationships with others and creating a caring community is possible. We only need to take the first step.

Today, I pledge to move forward with more compassion and caring to my family, my colleagues and my business friends. I’m going to make this a year with fewer regrets and more action. I’m starting right now.

Will you join me on this journey?