Regret

"I do not regret the things I've done, but those I did not do."
-Rory Cochrane

I did not kiss Bret or Jemaine.

I did not drink a Foster beer.

I did not jump off a bridge.

I did not hold a koala.

I did not see a sumo wrestling match.

I did not catch a flying fish in the air.

When traveling, some opportunities are missed. A person cannot see everything that Lonely Planet or Frommer's has to recommend; however, that is the beauty of traveling. Some things are meant to be missed. Others are meant to be seen.

Over the last two months, I have been very fortunate to travel to three amazing countries. Over Christmas break, I went with three friends--Chris, Jen, and Scottie--to New Zealand and Australia. Two weeks after returning from the land down under, I went to the Japanese cities of Fukoka and Hiroshima. I traveled via ferry boat from Korea with seven of my good girlfriends from school. Each trip was vastly different. I went from testosterone to estrogen, Anglo to Asian culture, sweltering tropics to cold cities, shepherd's pie to sushi, art museums to atomic bomb museums, and skydiving to saunas.

I didn't see or do everything that the guidebooks suggested, but it doesn't matter. Some things aren't meant to happen when others are. I have no regrets with my trips, except for not taking enough pictures. These trips have taught me to practice mindfulness when interacting with others and my surroundings in the moment. Things feel more engaging, sweeter, and more connected. This blog entry has no room for regret.

I was supposed to kiss the stars goodnight.

I was supposed to drink Strongbow instead of Foster beer.

I was supposed to jump out of a plane.

I was supposed to lick an ant that tasted like lime instead of holding a koala.

I was supposed to see a poker match between four people instead of a sumo match.

I was supposed to catch an Elmo doll in a bus of twenty random strangers.