Last week, I was driving back to St. Louis from Kansas City for fall break in the late hours of the night. While listening to some music, about 45 minutes into the drive, a poem popped into my head and I knew I had to write about it. This one poem is something that changed my life and made me think about myself as a person. I was given this poem from my high school varsity soccer coach and I always carry it with me. The poem is called, "the Guy in the Glass" by Dale Wimbrow. It goes like this:

"When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Whose judgement upon you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the one staring back from the glass.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass."

This poem speaks the truth. If you know me, you know that I am not the type to talk about myself or self-promote in any way. I just do not open up, but to get the importance and impact of this quote I feel I must open up a little bit.

What this article is saying is stay true to yourself. We live in a culture that relies so much on the acceptance and approval of those around us that we will do anything to get it. Even if that means losing yourself and becoming something you are not. I will be the first to admit that I have regrets because of the things I have done or simply failed to do, and I know I'm not the only one. We live in the world that glorifies the phrase "no regrets," but this world causes nothing but regret. If you say you have absolutely no regrets then you are lying to yourself, you’re lying to me, or you have found the secret to life, in which case please stop reading and go speak with Gandhi or the Pope.

Life is not simply about living with no regrets; it is about limiting those regrets by caring for others and being yourself. It is not always easy but like the poem says, if you cheat the guy in the glass you will only get heartaches and tears. I am by no means perfect or completely happy with the man I see in the glass, but I am working on it. If you could do one thing every day, I would recommend reading this poem, looking in the mirror and reflecting on what you did that day. If you did something you did not like, then find a way to make up for it. If everyone did this we would be much more caring and happy people.