Folly

I have hurt others’ feelings. I regret nothing I cannot change which is to say it is too late to undo my selfish decisions. I can only try not to repeat them.

Though regret is wasted, I do hope I now better realize it is necessary to consider the feelings of others. I have not sufficiently done this in the past.

Is it folly to charge ahead when our actions may harm others? There is no way to dodge that selfishness blinds us in our actions as our immediate wants and desires block our conscience. We must try to put ourselves in the shoes of those we impact even at the cost of our own selfish, best course of action.

My first concern is preventing emotional damage to others. My greatest weakness in dealing with others is my blindness to their emotional well-being and my possible impact on them.

When I retired from 20 plus years in Traffic Analysis I mentioned to the cubicle occupants around me that I would not be back to visit. Later I heard the lady in the next cubicle weeping and realized she would miss me. I had no idea. I then reassured her that I would be calling from time to time to see how those who sat around me were doing. I had not thought how my action would affect others.

I now try to be more aware of the feelings of others though I am not good at it. I now try not to be such a selfish boor as I have been. I miss the youthful clarity of self-interest but realize treating others as we want to b treated is a better goal.