Our inner compass for decision making cannot be driven by the thoughts, fears, and opinions of others, lest we spend a lifetime compiling regret and resentment. Regret comes from not doing what we know in our hearts to be true. Resentment comes from the blame we feel for our regrets, directed toward those whom we let distract us from our path. The opinions and feelings of others are fleeting like feathers in the breeze of time, but regret for time lost is like a permanent brand on the soul to remind us that we cannot go back, so we must do better for ourselves.
-Robert Van Valkenburgh teaches Taikyoku Budo and Brazilian Jiu-at Kogen Dojo