I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and
 yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was
 going to be unpleasant, and I knew in advance that no real good
 would come of it. I'm talking about my annual "Guilt Trip."

 I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines.
 It was an extremely short flight.

 I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it
 myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand
 memories of what might have been.

 No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City
 International Airport. I say international because people from
 all over the world come to this dismal town.

 As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they
 would be hosting the year's most important event, the Annual
 Pity Party. I wasn't going to miss that great social occasion.
 Many of the town's leading citizens would be there.

 First, there would be the Done family, you know,
 Should Have,
 Would Have
 and Could Have.

 Then came the I Had family.
 You probably know ol' Wish and his clan.

 Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost.

 The biggest family would be the Yesterday's. There are far too
 many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story
 to share.

 Then Shattered Dreams would surely make an appearance. And It's
 Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how
 things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly
 applauded by Don't Blame Me and I Couldn't Help It.

 Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing
 party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so.
 And, as usual, I became very depressed.

 But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought
 back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and
 subsequent "pity party" could be cancelled by ME!

 I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there.
 I didn't have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my
 mind, I CAN'T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE
 TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY.

 I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as
 encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret
 immediately and left no forwarding address.

 Am I sorry for mistakes I've made in the past? YES!
 But there is no physical way to undo them.

 So, if you're planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please
 cancel all your reservations now.

 Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked
 it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there.

 My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so
 very helpful. By the way, you don't have to carry around heavy
 baggage because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival.

 God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it,
 it's in your own heart.

 Please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.


 by Larry Harp