Essay: Appreciation Can Prevent Regret

It’s easy to put off seeing a friend or spending time with family when the option to do so feels ever-present. The things missed, though, are often the ones not taken advantage of when they were present. 

Appreciating the opportunities at hand is something that comes with maturity. It’s always the parents reminding teenagers to spend time with their grandparents, never the teenagers’ minds realizing they may not always have that option. 

Moving away from home for college is when this realization first strikes many people. It’s hard to imagine going days without hearing your mom’s voice or seeing your best friend until it’s simply a reality. 

After moving thousands of miles away, the regret hits. The realization plans once pushed off are now impossible. Suddenly the once dreaded early morning shift becomes appealing, as long as it means being home. 

It becomes hard to imagine these are the circumstances once yearned for. 

Even worse are the joys that are taken away. The disappearance of summer occurs each year, but it always seems too sudden. 

Growing up it seems the popularity of summer is derived only from the joy of having no school. But entering adulthood introduces the perspective that even a stressful work day could be made worth it by the presence of the sun. 

In a place like Chicago, motivation feels like it’s being carried away with the sun as the days get colder and the trees get thinner. Suddenly the days end sooner, limiting the time where the sun can even be spotted. 

Sitting in a small apartment, yearning for the warm feeling that won’t be available for months, reflecting on the times taken for granted. Regretting not going to the beach out of exhaustion from work. Regretting choosing to watch TV instead of taking a walk. Regretting not going for a long hike because of the excessive heat. 

Because now excessive heat sounds like a good thing. Spending all day inside, wearing layers upon layers, knowing leaving would mean adding more. Now you’d do anything to be too hot again, if only you could see the sun. 

Growing up causes people to choose what’s most important to them, whether that’s moving home to be closer to their family, or moving somewhere without harsh winters. Regret is always a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be mended.