"Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude." -Anne Frank
Life comes at you fast. One minute you're making crooked flowers with chalk on the pavement, and the next you're reading on Facebook that those people you said you would be close with forever aren't on this side of life anymore. It's a little odd to look back on your life and think that all those moments you thought were so important don't hold any significance to your life at all now. No one wants to waste time on senseless things, yet we do it all the time.
In less than a month, I'll be walking across the stage of the Pensacola Bay Center reaching out to grab a piece of paper that symbolizes ending one part of my life, and embarking upon another. I can't help but think back to all those moments of high school that I thought were SO important. To be completely honest with you, I've forgotten about most of them simply because they hold little to no value. Here are two things I do remember though, and why I agree with Anne Frank 100% in her position that regret is stronger than gratitude.
1. The Cliques
You know how on High School Musical, they all come together and sing every five minutes? That most certainly doesn't happen, but I'm sure you already know that. But what you may not be aware of is how cliques are such a driving force of the social aspect of high school. I of course have those friends that I'm closer with and hang out with the most, but it wasn't until I looked around in the lunchroom and saw people sitting alone that I realized, I don't want to want to be the person that makes someone else feel like they aren't good enough to join in with the rest of us. Some of you regret seeing that "weird" guy or girl that no one likes to talk to, sitting alone and not doing or saying anything about it. Good news: there's a ton of other lonely people in the world just waiting for someone to put their own desires aside and reach out a helping hand.
2. The Lack of Sensitivity
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it eats its fruit." Proverbs 18:21. In the moment it was funny when that joke, that was vocalized to the entire class, called out a girl on her outfit. Later on it may be regretful if it were recognized that the same funny joke, was now the defeated tears on her pillow. Of course much worse is said in high school, but I will spare you the details. Harsh words don't stop after high school though. Slandering words are said in the break room or on the phone or at the dinner table. You may regret speaking out of anger at some point in this week. Good news: a future scenario will occur where you're angry and have the opportunity to use the power of your tongue to speak death. My advice to you is don't.
Be grateful for the life you live where the people around you aren't the same as you. Be grateful for the life you live where you have the ability to vocalize your opinions and concerns. But don't live your life in a way where you look back and regret not being inclusive or using your tongue to speak life to others.
