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I don’t really believe in “regrets” per se… I tend to think it is energy wasted on things you can’t change. I don’t like to waste the limited energy I have in this life. But this week I have been thinking SO MUCH about ONE MOMENT I shared with a student that I SO, SO, SO WISH I could redo!

My friend (the student) was in the office but I had no idea why. I came around the corner and I saw him and I wanted to joke with him and talk with him and interact with him as I always did in the lunchroom everyday… because he would always sit by himself… and I just wanted him to know he had a friend… but I didn’t. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t think it appropriate to joke around with him… just in case he was “in trouble” and I didn’t want to make him feel worse in case he “REALLY was in trouble.”

As it turns out, he was in “big trouble.” I will never get a chance to see my friend again. What I ended up doing when I saw my friend in the office was giving him just the hint of a smile and shaking my head the tiniest bit… thinking I would have another chance to “say” what I wish I could say to EVERY student… “I love you, buddy. I care about you. I hope you are ok.” I did not. I turned left through the door and went to my office. I didn’t know. I did not realize I would NEVER get another chance to tell him I cared about him and I liked to talk with him and I thought he was such an interesting young person who had a lot to offer this world. I didn’t realize. I just smiled (a bit) and walked away… offering my friend very little of what he PROBABLY needed in that moment. I failed! There are DEFINITELY things I SHOULD have done in that moment… but I didn’t. I lost a friend… and I will never get a chance to make it right.