I was spending time with a friend the other day. We were enjoying the company, talking about this and that, at least when I wasn't getting lessons on my strokes.
"Strokes?"
Oh yeah, I'm finally learning how to swim. I know, at my age, what took so long, right? That's another post entirely.
Anyway, the conversation touched on regrets, and I realized, I can't think of any.
Since then I've tried, and I still can't come up with any true regrets. A couple of minor "I wish I hadn't bought that trinket" kind of things that barely count. A part of me has even expressed a desire to have learned how to swim at a much younger age. Would have made so many swim parties so much more enjoyable.
Then again, some of those failed purchases also don't quite count, because they stand as reminders for me to be careful. The things I buy are not guaranteed to be what I expected, or even to last. Because of those bad buys, I've learned to be more selective, and to really, truly THINK about why I want something. Many other not-so-good decisions do the same. As for swimming, I did all right without it, and who knows what it allowed me to do or kept me from doing that were for the best.
In this way, other things that come to mind are more curiosities than real regrets. Choices that changed how things went in my life. For example: In high school I had a chance to take a tour on the U.S.S. Nimitz. For those who don't know, that's one of the U.S. Navy's most famous and prestigious air-craft carriers. It's one of those ships that, if you're an enemy, you don't want coming your way. It was also nice timing as I was in the trenches of my early writing. Remember that sci-fi I mentioned last time? I was working on it's early incarnation back then. Since my characters were stationed on a carrier, it was the perfect chance to see what a real one looked like, so that I could adopt some parts for my interstellar version.
However, the day of the trip, a miscommunication on a question I had made me think it was going to be run quite horribly. Something I wouldn't enjoy or get much out of. I decided against going.
Since then I've wondered, what if I had gone anyway? What would it have changed? Is it better that I didn't go? Did I miss out on something that would have helped? I'll never know. But I'm fine with what happened. It taught me to be a bit more clear on my questions, and be sure I get the question I'm asking answered. So in that, it was worth it.
And that's really where my "regrets" fall. Even with my Kickstarter, I find myself in the same boat. Should I have not launched it? I mean, I spent a lot of money to get the word out there about it. I got nothing from it though.
And yet, I did get something from it. The art would not have been done, or if it were, not by the same artist most likely. Would Estrella have come out as amazingly as she did? It also spurred other conversations that are on the verge of proving amazingly helpful. I got practice doing readings, and I gotta say, the second one went extremely well. True I didn't get enough sales to make a difference, but at least I know when the time comes, I'll be okay in that area. In addition, I've more than doubled my readership here.
So do I regret the effort? No. I wonder about it. Should I have waited? Could I have done things differently? I ask in curiosity, but regret? No. So far it's all added pieces to what will be in time. I can't see the final shape yet, but I'd be willing to bet what I learned from the Kickstarter will have an impact.
So if I had to do it again, I don't think I'd change a thing.
I'm curious. Any of you feel the same way? I don't need details. Just wondering if you have things that went not quite according to plan you
"Strokes?"
Oh yeah, I'm finally learning how to swim. I know, at my age, what took so long, right? That's another post entirely.
Anyway, the conversation touched on regrets, and I realized, I can't think of any.
Since then I've tried, and I still can't come up with any true regrets. A couple of minor "I wish I hadn't bought that trinket" kind of things that barely count. A part of me has even expressed a desire to have learned how to swim at a much younger age. Would have made so many swim parties so much more enjoyable.
Then again, some of those failed purchases also don't quite count, because they stand as reminders for me to be careful. The things I buy are not guaranteed to be what I expected, or even to last. Because of those bad buys, I've learned to be more selective, and to really, truly THINK about why I want something. Many other not-so-good decisions do the same. As for swimming, I did all right without it, and who knows what it allowed me to do or kept me from doing that were for the best.
In this way, other things that come to mind are more curiosities than real regrets. Choices that changed how things went in my life. For example: In high school I had a chance to take a tour on the U.S.S. Nimitz. For those who don't know, that's one of the U.S. Navy's most famous and prestigious air-craft carriers. It's one of those ships that, if you're an enemy, you don't want coming your way. It was also nice timing as I was in the trenches of my early writing. Remember that sci-fi I mentioned last time? I was working on it's early incarnation back then. Since my characters were stationed on a carrier, it was the perfect chance to see what a real one looked like, so that I could adopt some parts for my interstellar version.
However, the day of the trip, a miscommunication on a question I had made me think it was going to be run quite horribly. Something I wouldn't enjoy or get much out of. I decided against going.
Since then I've wondered, what if I had gone anyway? What would it have changed? Is it better that I didn't go? Did I miss out on something that would have helped? I'll never know. But I'm fine with what happened. It taught me to be a bit more clear on my questions, and be sure I get the question I'm asking answered. So in that, it was worth it.
And that's really where my "regrets" fall. Even with my Kickstarter, I find myself in the same boat. Should I have not launched it? I mean, I spent a lot of money to get the word out there about it. I got nothing from it though.
And yet, I did get something from it. The art would not have been done, or if it were, not by the same artist most likely. Would Estrella have come out as amazingly as she did? It also spurred other conversations that are on the verge of proving amazingly helpful. I got practice doing readings, and I gotta say, the second one went extremely well. True I didn't get enough sales to make a difference, but at least I know when the time comes, I'll be okay in that area. In addition, I've more than doubled my readership here.
So do I regret the effort? No. I wonder about it. Should I have waited? Could I have done things differently? I ask in curiosity, but regret? No. So far it's all added pieces to what will be in time. I can't see the final shape yet, but I'd be willing to bet what I learned from the Kickstarter will have an impact.
So if I had to do it again, I don't think I'd change a thing.
I'm curious. Any of you feel the same way? I don't need details. Just wondering if you have things that went not quite according to plan you
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