No Regrets

There is a framed, poster sized photo, of 27-year-old me on the wall in my downstairs office, with a bumper sticker taped to the bottom of it, that contains two large words.... "No Regrets".

The photo was made on a Sunday afternoon in the spring of 1996, and I was pitching against the AA Phillies in Reading, Pennsylvania. Number 16 on my back, a nasty slider in my hand, I was fit, strong, 100% healthy, with thousands of people in the stands watching me do what I loved to do, and I did it well that day.

I walked two hitters, struck out a bunch and allowed only three hits over 8 shutout innings. Ironically two of those three hits were by another former USA Jaguar on his way to a long big-league career, Marlon Anderson. One hit a dribbler that he beat out, the other a laser between first and second. The things we remember.

Looking back at my baseball career, I really don't have any regrets from that era of my life. All these years later I am still at peace with my approach and pursuit of the game.

Then, life after baseball happened....

There are two key things I have learned about regret in the last almost three decades. Number one.... regret takes time.

Regret takes time because regret requires wisdom, and wisdom only comes with time. So, it generally takes time to regret something we could have done differently, done better, or should have not done at all.

Number two.... it's not the long-term impact of these decisions in our own personal life that generally sting, but the impact these decisions have made, or could have made, on the people closest to us that, at least for me, have the most weight.

The shoulda, woulda, couldas, perhaps of a few key decisions in life, or a life lived consistently different in some areas, can be constantly pushed to the forefront of our mind, if we let it. So, don't let it. Instead....

Focus on making today better, so tomorrow is better, so there is less to regret in the days after that.

If there is something standing between you and those better days, then get rid of it.

If there is a habit you need to break, then get busy breaking it.

If there is a habit you need to create, then get busy creating it.

If there are better choices you need to make across the board, then get busy making them.... lest the enemy continue to show up an beat you over the head with these things.

Truth is.... when it comes to baseball, I have no regrets. when it comes to life after baseball, I have a list. When it comes to Faith, I have only one….

I do regret the fact that it took me 46 years to get here, but I’m here, “in the boat” and that…. is all that matters!

If I may offer some advice, you can’t escape regret in this life but there is one decision you will never regret, and that is the decision to give your life to Christ, to follow Him.

So far, I haven’t met a single person that regretted making that decision. Not a single one. Those are pretty good odds.

Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.

From Nose To Toes!

Shane / #16