•Large Selection •Best Prices Letting Go Of The Past H ow many times have you said: "I wish I hadn't done that" or "I'm disappointed that it didn't turn out better:' For many of us, too often we have looked back on some event or encoun- ter and wished it had ended in another way. Life, unlike kids' games, offers few do- overs. We are stuck with what happened and need to find ways to move beyond those times. As our lives become increasingly busy, it gets harder to find time for people we value and events we cherish. We all have known the feeling: A person we've known and even loved has died. Only then do we question why we failed to call, visit, talk with and learn from him or her. When they were accessible, we may have become frustrated or rude when hearing their same stories repeated too many times. Looking back, we long to hear those irreplaceable stories once more. Only after do we become aware of what we will miss and never get back. Though we may resolve not to let it happen again, of course, it will. When spouses or siblings quar- rel, it is usually about small things. Under different circumstances, such disagreements need not be divisive. Sometimes, however, little tiffs get out of control. In the heat of the argu- ment, we say or do something that can disrupt or even destroy relationships. There are families where siblings stop talking to each other; for spouses unresolved disputes lead to divorce. Such estrangements continue long after no one can recall what the fight was about. In rare cases, someone in the family takes it upon herself to keep those branches of the family tree from being severed, but this is a risk few take. As we get older, we look back on our many mistakes, like those that have affected our health. Every day our bod- ies remind us of the lifestyles choices that were not in our best interest. Too often, too late, we acknowledge that junk food and sugary treats affect our heart efficiency. Painful joints and muscles remind us of exercises we put off to do less strenuous activities. Throughout our lives we reflect on how past penchants affect future decisions. Better alterna- tives only come to mind in hindsight. We regularly hear stories in the news about people who acted irresponsibly by drinking too much or driving too fast. Confident they could avoid danger, they still caused an accident or were pulled over. One moment of thoughtlessness led to law- yers and courts, lost driving privileges or potential jail time. Not to mention how the embarrassment and compromise of reputations can impact lives for years to come. How you make important decisions can sidetrack your entire life trajec- tory. Changing even one important life choice can reverberate throughout the course of a lifetime. What if you took up a different career, married someone else or formed other social relation- ships? Some people make choices impul- sively, such as giving up a stellar opportunity to move closer to a love interest or to relocate away from fam- ily influences. Others feel pressure to follow a traditional family profes- sion. There is no way to know if these altered courses would make life hap- pier. There is no crystal ball that lets us see what our alternate lives would be like. We know there have been many misgivings in our lives. Still, as Frank Sinatra sang, we've "had regrets, but then again, too few to mention:' In order for 01' Blue Eyes' words to ring true, we need to reflect on the past as reference points. In order to move forward, don't linger on those past regrets. •Mobile Showroom on Wheels •Ultimate Confidence Guarantee "If you're not happy with your new carpet for any reason, we'll replace it with carpet of equal value!" 28096 Woodward Ave. • Royal Oak 48067 23957 Ryan Rd. • Warren 48091 CALL 248-213-7705 MOTORCITYCARPET.COM ' YOUR CHOICE ME PADDING BERBER CARPET ME LABOR FREE ESTIMATES Not valid with any other offer or special. Some restrictions apply. Expires 8/13/14 II II II II II ii II LAMINATES AIRING AT $129 /SQ. FT. II Material only. With coupon. Expires 8/13/14. Material only. With coupon Expires 8/13/14. I I II Material only. With coupon. Expires 8/13/14. The July Summer Firecracker Deal I '4\ \\ " 4\ ‘‘: \ • 0 # os. Renew your old subscription or Get a New Subscription of the Detroit Jewish News 1 year of the JN for $65 2 years of the JN for $125 3 years of the Mfor $175 In state only. July 3rd through July 18th ONLY! ❑ Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum is a clinical social worker at Counseling Associates Inc. in West Bloomfield. CARPET t-- Call to subscribe: 248.351.5120 JN July 17 • 2014 49