Turning back the hands of Time

Very often in life we look back in time to reminisce, to savour the good and the bad, the sweet and sour, and more often the plain and monotonous. What is left in the residues of our memories are very often the traumas and pain. We remember the good times but more often than not those that have left us hurt, dry and despondent. It's often that which we recall has left us empty. And it is then that we hope to return back in time just to re-live the memory again and perhaps to redirect the course of the present future.

Yet we know that would be an impossibility - and that accentuates the loss, pain and regret even more. Till such time quantum physics breaks through the space-time barrier, the past is best lived as memories.

R. Kelley's song is provocative, though simple:

How did I ever let you slip away
Never knowing I'd be singing this song some day
And now I'm sinking, sinking to rise no more
Ever since you closed the door

[1] - If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then my darlin' you'd still be mine
If I could turn, turn back the hands of time
Then darlin' you, you'd still be mine

Funny, funny how time goes by
And blessings are missed in the wink of an eye
Why oh why oh why should
one have to go on suffering
When every day I pray please come back to me

[Repeat 1]

And you had enough love for the both of us
But I, I, I did you wrong, I admit I did
But now I'm facing the rest of my life alone, whoa

[Repeat 1]

I'd never hurt you (If I could turn back)
Never do you wrong (If I could turn back)
And never leave your side (If I could turn back)
If I could turn back the hands

There'd be nothing
I wouldn't do for you (If I could turn back)
Forever honest and true to you (If I could turn back)
If you accept me back in your heart, I love you
(If I could turn back the hands)

(If I could turn back)
That would be my will
(If I could turn back)
Darlin' I'm begging you to take me by the hands
(If I could turn back the hands)

I'm going down, yes I am
(If I could turn back)
Down on my bended knee, yeah
(If I could turn back)
And I'm gonna be right there until you return to me
(If I could turn back the hands)

(If I could turn back)
If I could just turn back
that little clock on the wall
(If I could turn back)
Then I'd come
to realize how much I love you
Love you love you love you
(If I could turn back the hands)

If one could learn to live a life without regrets, as cliche as it may sound, life would be good. But to err is human, to regret affirms that humanity even more. Despite having taught, and trying to teach, my kids never to live a life of regrets, it is difficult realising it.

What I have come to reconcile however is the fact that regretting is part of human nature; finding the strength to move on from here is what marks strength of character and embodies the philosophy of living life to the fullest. I am still trying to live that philosophy.