I've tried to view life as a series of learning experiences.
You can't change the past, but the real tragedy would be that if you didn't learn from it.
I think someone on this board even defines insanity as "doing what you have always done, but expecting different results".
Even very negative events can have positive outcomes.
Perhaps my most profound experience was when I was 16.
Before this particular event I was somewhat shy, and easily walked over.
What happened was that I suffered quite a beating at the hands of about 4 or 5 young fellows (the fight had actually started when a mate of theirs attacked me - only I was considerably larger and more skilled at fist fighting than he was - they stepped in to help him).
Two broken teeth, a shiner and a badly bloodied nose later it ended.
At the time it was awful.
But it did wonders for my confidence.
Nobody looked sideways at me after that.
MB
You can't change the past, but the real tragedy would be that if you didn't learn from it.
I think someone on this board even defines insanity as "doing what you have always done, but expecting different results".
Even very negative events can have positive outcomes.
Perhaps my most profound experience was when I was 16.
Before this particular event I was somewhat shy, and easily walked over.
What happened was that I suffered quite a beating at the hands of about 4 or 5 young fellows (the fight had actually started when a mate of theirs attacked me - only I was considerably larger and more skilled at fist fighting than he was - they stepped in to help him).
Two broken teeth, a shiner and a badly bloodied nose later it ended.
At the time it was awful.
But it did wonders for my confidence.
Nobody looked sideways at me after that.
MB