"Regrets... I've had a few... but then again... too few to mention..."
Fear not, I don't intend to burst into song on you. Even via a blog, that would be a cruel and unusual punishment, as I believe the saying goes.
Today I'm thinking of regrets about writing. Or, more accurately - regrets about not writing.
It's an issue which has come up several times in recent weeks in my chats with aspiring authors. They very much want to start writing a book they say, but they can't find the time.
I understand the problem. Who wouldn't? Life is busy. There are jobs, families, friends, a whole world to attend to.
But I still very much believe there's always time. It's just a question of finding it.
For those who work hard, but still yearn to write, I sometimes ask this question - do you wake up in the morning eagerly looking forward to going to work?
To which the answer is mostly no.
But if you ask - do you wish you had time today to do some writing?
That answer comes back very different.
Which tells you something...
Before I get accused of simplifying the problem, I'll let you in on what I did. Work was hectic and demanding, as it always was, but I was desperate to try writing. So I amended my life.
I started going to bed early and getting up before six in the morn, so I could do at least a couple of hours before I went about the day job.
I thought it would be difficult, a chore. But guess what I found? I loved it so much that it was a great pleasure, and I couldn't wait to wake up every day to start writing again.
I did it as an experiment, a challenge to myself. Just to give it a try, because I wanted to. I never expected to be published, let alone go on the wonderful journey which it's offered me.
And that was just over eight years ago.
So, looking back now, I wonder how much I'd regret it each passing year if I'd never started writing.
I think of it like this - if something is calling you so strongly, then there's surely a reason for it. So it would be a shame, to put it very mildly indeed, not to follow the call.
Because you never know where it might lead you. At the worst, the realisation of a passion and an ambition. And at best...
Well then, go find out - just like I did.