“IF ONLY” – regrets, self recriminations or “in spite of” opportunities

“IF ONLY…..” What sad words! I’ve heard them many times, expressing REGRET or SELF RECRIMINATIONS,  especially at funerals.
“If only I had listened to him, he might still be alive” –
“If only I’d told her I was sorry before she died” –
“If only. . .”

Defeated by an "If only . . ."

Then again, “If only” is often used an EXCUSE – as in this true account . . .

A man had a garden which could have been beautiful, but he had a problem. An immense boulder was deeply embedded. He tried to blast it out but only shattered the windows. He refused to work on the rest of the garden while that eyesore remained, so he continued to use one harsh measure after another to remove it, but all without success. He bitterly bemoaned his lot.

A few years later he died from worry and frustration, complaining that “if only” he had been able to remove that boulder, he could have had the most beautiful garden in the district.

His nephew inherited the house and moved in. He perceived the hopelessness of removing the boulder, so he converted it into a rockery, covered with frescoes, flowers and ferns. The eyesore became the centrepiece and the biggest attraction of the magnificent garden.

So sad … I’ve also heard “If only” as an EXCUSE many times from many people and I have to admit using it myself.

“If only I could be free of this problem, I could be different!”
“If only I’d had parents who cared, I’d be different today”
“If only I’d had more opportunities …”
“If only I had more spare time…”
“If only I’d studied harder at school”
“If only I didn’t have this bad back”
“If only I’d married a better man”
“If only I’d invested that lottery win instead of wasting it”

How often do we face our problems with “If only . . .”?

Are you shackled to your “If only. . .”

shackled by an "If only"

Or have you changed an “if only” to an “IN SPITE OF” and used it as an OPPORTUNITY?

Use an "If only" as an opportunity

Some apt sayings:

# Problems can make you soar above – or just plain sore!
# Where there are no trials – there are no triumphs
# When life hands you a lemon – make lemonade!

# He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.