When I was a teenager I adopted a bit of motto, “no excuses, no regrets”. This sounds like a good motto. It wasn’t.
At that time in my life, it was an example of selfish pride. Why does someone make excuses or regrets? Excuses are made in an effort to explain (or excuse) an action. Regrets are associated with the negative feelings that typically follow a bad decision. My sentiment behind my juvenile statement was that excuses and regrets served no purpose. I would tell people something to the effect of, “There is no point in excuses, what’s done is done. There is no point in regretting things, what’s done is done.” What an appalling attitude.
In my vanity, I completely disregarded that decisions have unintended consequences. By saying “no excuses, no regrets” I was communicating that I don’t even need to explain myself, if you don’t like my decisions, tuff taco. By saying “no excuses, no regrets” I was communicating that I don’t have to feel remorse, if you got hurt, that’s your problem. What an appalling self-centered attitude.
I have recently rethought the motto. Maybe the motto by itself isn’t that bad, just the way I was applying it was bad. What if “no excuses, no regrets” is a better goal than a motto. I want to live everyday intentionally trying to do things and make decisions that I won’t have to make excuses for. I want to live everyday intentionally trying to live in a way that I will not later regret. I think that the best way (or at least one way) to live with “no excuses, no regrets” is to give and love and help people.