“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.”
These words came to me in a dream last night.
A Doorway to the Sky
When I was a child
I remember lying outside on the grass
I remember standing in a doorway to the sky
Without hesitation, I moved through the door and I became a bird
As I extended my arms, my wings unfolded naturally, and I glided freely through the clouds and over the mountains
Up here, I felt invincible. I felt alive. Anything was possible.
When I was a teenager
I remember being in my room
I don’t remember liking myself very much
I remember looking at the ground a lot
I don’t remember looking at the sky or the doorway
I felt lonely. I felt misunderstood.
When I was an Adult
I remember the glare of the florescent lights in my office and having lunch at my desk
By the time I got home it was dark
I remember being busy and having fun
I don’t remember finding time to look at the sky
I don’t remember missing it
I felt restless. I felt needy.
When I was Married and a Parent
I was constantly distracted by the list of things to do and the needs of my children, work and life
Every now and then I would lay beside them outside on the grass and they would suggest excitedly, “Let’s pretend we are birds and can fly freely through the sky.”
I remembered how much I loved doing that when I was their age, and how it made me me feel larger than life, and as I answered another text on my phone, I realized how quickly I had lost my ability to expand and dream
I felt unsupported. I felt tired
When my children left home
I remember standing at the airport watching them go up in a plane and travel to faraway places
I remember feeling excited knowing they were free to expand and do what they had always dreamed of
I remember thinking I would have time to do all the things I said I would do, now they had left home
I got busy again
I still forgot to look at the sky
I felt life was going too fast
On my deathbed
I feel weak. I feel pain. I never thought about my death. I never imagined it would creep up on me so quickly
My great grandson, is sitting next to me on my hospital bed. He is stroking my hand and whispering, “Today I thought I was a bird granny. I moved through a doorway in the sky and my wings unfolded easily. I soared high through the clouds and over the mountains. I could see everyone and everything from up here. I was invincible granny.”
As the tears fell from my eyes, I felt my grandson’s freedom rise up in me and in his eyes, I saw all the missed opportunities play out like a movie
I feel regret.
Make space in your day to look up at the sky. Find the courage to move through the doorway. Unfold your wings easily and soar towards your true potential. Learn to feel and see as much as you can. Become invincible while there is time.
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
❤
This is like a heavy rainfall of truth…
And so delicately expressed.
Thank you for sharing 💕
Thank you Sawsan 💕💚
Unfolding every part of life in such a profound and insightful way, Karen. Awesome poem and to fly to freer skies like a bird. Oh it would be a pleasure.
Thank you Kamal! Keep flying 💕💚
Welcome dear Karen
🙏🏻
Your words lent me wings.
I’m happy to hear that Joan 💚💕
Beautiful, Karen! An important reminder for us to free ourselves..in each moment, each day. 🙏🏻💕
Beautifully said Carrie. Thank you 💚🙏🏻
Such a beautiful post Karen. It touched me deeply. 💕 I’m looking up at the sky right now and thinking of all the people who yearn to fly once more. See you in the clouds Karen 🌤
Yes I love that Val! To fly freely and to expand deeply. That is living fully! 💕💚
Oh, beautiful! So much to appreciate and I haven’t stopped looking at the sky, even if to my own detriment. We all learn from our regrets and we are fortunate when we can time travel and prevent many of them from becoming a reality. I feel this kind of fortune in my own life, the ability to time travel and “put right what once went wrong” as long as I am alive….
Wonderful, wonderful post!
Thank you Ka. A beautiful reflection. I appreciate your comment and your ability to soar high! ✈️💕💚
Another beautiful post full of wisdom and love, Karen. Thank you..xoxo
Thanks Lori! I appreciate that 💕💚
I tried to soo
the myself by drawing upon a thought I had often invoked in my work with patients: the greater the sense of unlived life…This equation calmed me as I considered how few regrets I have about the life I’ve lived.
~ Irvin D. Yalom, “Becoming Myself: A Psychiatrist’s Memoir” (Basic Books, October 3, 2017)
Yes so important to step back and see this. 🙏🏻
Thank you for the reminder to look at the sky and the ones you love with all your being. Life passes quickly by, each day is such a gift.
It is a gift Ali! Thank you for sharing your writing with us too 🙏🏻💕
Wow. Your dreams are pretty deep–I love how the Universe seems to be speaking to you.
Thanks Kristine. It’s happened a few times and it’s not like I get every word in my dream, I just get a vision and the theme and then as I begin writing it just flows out. I have realised speaking with others who write, that when we meditate and practice silence regularly, we open portals to hear and understand a greater wisdom. It’s so cool and I wished it happened more often. 🙏🏻💕
I agree. Since I started to meditate more often, my dreams are far more vivid-and far more pointed in their message :-). But I am not quite to this point! You are far ahead of me :-).
No not at all. Just been practising for longer that’s all! And I am still learning! 😉
Lovely piece.<3
Thank you Carol 🙏🏻💚
Thank you for the reminder Karen. It really made me think. So lovely.
Thanks Michele. We all need a reminder 💕💚
That is easy to do in the Southwest where I can see 30 miles or so in any direction. I’d be able to see farther but for the mountains surrounding me. Yesterday’s sky was busy with swatches of blue, patchy with deep grays and distant showers drifting down to the mountains. Heavenly!
Beautiful! Sounds amazing Emilie 💕💚