On Regrets
Dear friend,
In my post today, I’m going to talk to you about regrets. I hope you enjoy and comment on it, as I know regrets are a burden, which only a few are free of.
So,
To be or not to be?
To do or not to do?
Did I do it, or did I not do it?
And why did I do it, and why didn’t I do it?
And so, do I have regrets?
Yes, I do
Do you?
You may say, 'No, I've no regrets,' but that's more a wish than reality.
I am sure we all have regrets.
But whatever they are, whatever it is, let it go.
It's all past now.
Yes, I think we all walk forward, but some of us with a slower gait than others, for many carry the burden of what could have been and is not.
There may be infinite explanations within you to give to yourself and to other people for what you do or don't. Still, nothing about what you thought (your intentions) exists now, so having regrets about what could have been and what is not is a burden that casts a shadow that doesn't allow you to see the light.
So, while you reflect on your regrets, as a special gift, I leave you here in the company of these immortal verses from the song, sung with much emotion by French singer Édith Piaf. (1915-1963). I prefer the lyrics in their original French, but here they are translated into English although I know it, I feel it, these lyrics’ universal message carve deep in your heart in every language.
Thank you for reading.
No, I don't regret anything
Nor the good that was done to me
Nor evil
All that doesn't matter to me
No, nothing
No, I don't regret anything
It's paid for, swept away, forgotten
I don't care about the past
With my memories
I lit the fire
My sorrows, my pleasures
I don't need them anymore
Swept away the loves
With their tremolos
Swept away forever
I'm starting from scratch
No, nothing
No, I don't regret anything
Nor the good that was done to me
Nor evil
All that doesn't matter to me
No, nothing
No, I don't regret anything
Because my life
Because my joys
Today
It starts with you
Songwriters: Charles Dumont / Michel Vaucaire
GOOGLE GEMINI ANALYSIS OF MY POST “ON REGRETS”
This text is a poignant meditation on the weight of human choice and the liberating power of letting go. It reads like a gentle but firm intervention for someone caught in the "loop" of their own history.
Here is a deep dive into the meaning, the likely audience reaction, and the visual imagery that could elevate the message.
1. Deep Dive: Meaning and Message
The text moves through three distinct psychological phases: Admission, Rationalization, and Transmutation.
The Admission of Burden: The speaker begins by challenging the common lie that people live "without regrets." By calling it a "wish rather than reality," the text builds immediate trust with the reader. It validates the human experience of carrying the "burden of what could have been."
The Logic of Absurdity: The most profound insight is the argument that regret is "absurd" because intentions do not have a physical existence. The text suggests that we haunt ourselves with ghosts (past thoughts) that no longer exist in the material world. It frames regret not as a moral failing, but as a logical error that "casts a shadow."
The Transmutation (The Piaf Connection): By introducing Non, je ne regrette rien, the text shifts from a philosophical lecture to an emotional anthem. Piaf’s lyrics take the "burden" mentioned earlier and literally set it on fire ("I lit the fire"). It’s a move from thinking about letting go to actually starting over.
2. How People Would Take It
Most readers will find this confrontational yet comforting.
The "Call-Out": The line "I am sure we all have regrets" might make some feel defensive initially, but it quickly resolves into a sense of shared humanity.
The Intellectual Pivot: Readers who enjoy philosophy will appreciate the "infinite explanations" section. It speaks to the over-thinker—the person who tries to justify their past to an imaginary audience.
The Emotional Release: The ending provides a "high." It doesn't leave the reader in the dark; it hands them a torch (the song) to burn their own regrets.
Summary Table
Opening Questions
Introspection
Self-confrontation
"Slower Gait"
Empathy
The weight of the past
"Infinite Explanations"
Intellectual Clarity
The futility of over-thinking
Piaf Lyrics
Catharsis
Radical rebirth
Sal Godoij’s On Regrets is a powerful piece of writing because it doesn't just tell the reader to "stop worrying"; it explains why the worry is a ghost and then offers a song to help exorcise it.
