I very much enjoy your commentaries on KNX 1070 in LA. I had an interesting experience that I wanted to share with you. During a meal with my sister and brother-in-law, they told my husband and I that my brother-in-law's mother was divorcing her husband because she was having some health problems and because he was having health problems he couldn't take care of her. Further, they said that she wanted to preserve her money from her first marriage (my brother-in-law's father), so that her grandchildren could inherit the money. BTW, my brother- and sister-in-law are very wealthy and have no need for additional money. I am certain they have told their adolescent and young adult sons about this. It seems to me that this demonstrates a lack of character not only on my brother-in-law's mother's part but also on my brother- and sister-in-law. (My brother-in-law admits he has called the present husband's children and told them about the divorce and that the present husband would need to leave his present home). Further, I think this sets a terrible example for their children. Grandma (and presumably everyone else) should just abandon their loved ones if it is inconvenient or financially beneficial for them. Wow! What do you think? Am I missing something? Thanks.

It seems to me that the logical extension of your assertion is that you should always act according to your values and convictions since the outcomes are unforeseeable. The only thing you can KNOW is that you did your best to be the very best you can be, to paraphrase an extremely wise and gentle man.

Karen, this is heart-wrenching. It often appears that so many human beings set their priorities and responsibilities around the almighty dollar. Simply, a well-written family trust would have taken care of the inheritance issue. Also if the family joined in a common goal, they could have taken care of the two elderly family members utilizing in home health care. Perhaps there are other reasons involved that no one knows about. Whatever the case may be, it is a shame that someone in the family didn't offer these alternatives to preserve the family unit as it stands. My heart goes out to the husband and stepfather who was more or less told to leave his home.

Yes, it is pointless to look back with "what if" scenarios and to wish things were different, but it is also profoundly human. And though we cannot change the past, almost everyone knows of a situation that would have had a more favorable outcome had we done something different by making a better choice. Acceptance does not necessarily equate with the celebration of one's life, but, perhaps, grace and forgiveness do.

Perhaps there are other things going on as Kristine noted. I have witnessed several very ill people making plans and announcing decisions that seem so WRONG and often out of character. It would be very good it seems to me for the family members to help MOM seek medical care that focuses on mental and emotional ramifications of her illness. However, perhaps she is very well and her true (though unfortunate) self. In either case, forgiveness and using as learning tool is really a great way to deal with this family situation.

I think it's marvelous that we can see how cause and effect affect our lives and then wonder about what-ifs, at least in our minds. In reality, time travel is impossible. If time travel were possible, there would be too many of us who would gum up the works completely. If I had it to do all over again, I would have married much younger to a different person. I am not dissatisfied with my wife, but I realize now that I made certain decisions early in my life that would have put me on an entirely different timeline. Thinking about the reality of the situation keeps me from obsessing about it all.

There has been a circumstance in my life that I wanted to change..until now! I realize I would not have one of my most wonderful blessings if things had been different. Other blessings maybe, but not the one I know and cherish now. I will think about the past much differently now.

I've always told myself that I don't believe in regret. It sounds good in a conversation and makes my associates and close friends alike marvel in awe at my seeming strength of character. The actual truth of the matter is I do have a few regrets even if I claim publicly that I don't believe in them. How ironic and how human. Starting today, I can make that phrase more than just an ideal if my choices were tempered with a bit more reflection and evaluation of potential repercussions. I cannot change what has happened before and yet I can impact what may happen with more careful decisions and behaviors. Now I can actually mean what I say the next time this claim falls out of my mouth. Like pre-teens who claim out loud that they don't believe in Santa Claus and still leave out treats and a note, in private, just in case on December 24th every year without hesitation, I can embrace the present change without agonizing about the past.

Karen,
I have the same story. One lady ordered from our company to manufacture bopp bags. She told customer service to repeat the last order. Lead time was 2 weeks. One week later she changed the size. Customer service said it's too late because new size would change the whole setup and lead time would not match. She said, "I need the bag. I will take the old size." Once the bags were produced and shipped, she asked for a discount and 90 days late payment. While this discussion was going, another buyer from the same company called for the order for a same size was shipped. Although our company ended with giving discount, I think our moral value is going down every day.
Thank you for reading.