Issue 10, Jul 2008
Most of us have some regrets. We know well the word, “If only I had “  or “I wish I did”, and “if I had only chosen that direction”. That’s why we memorized the John Greenleaf Whittier lines, 

Regrets can weigh us down, make our life sad, or cause us to end up with bitterness and even hatred.

 

In a gathering of local pastors several months ago, one pastor mentioned the book Eat That Frog. He said it was available in libraries. I didn’t believe it, so next time I visited our local library, I asked the librarian for the book.  She gave me a sort of ‘you’re pulling my leg look’, but  checked the data base and said, “Yes, here it is." She found it in the business  section of Kingwood College in North Harris County. I asked her please to get it.

 

 

 

 

So here it is, lying in front of me, written by Brian Tracy. It's a self-help book with the subtitle: 21 ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. The title, Eat That Frog, comes from the thought that if the worst thing you had  to do  today was to eat a frog, get to it. Boil it, fry it, grill it, steam it, but get it done. After that, the rest of the tasks of the day will be easier.

 

Makes sense, doesn’t it? Just start, and the thing gets done.

 

Reminded me of the homestead in our neighborhood when I was growing up. The item that set this place off was a white rail fence around the property. Really looked fancy. But after some weathering, the fence needed to be painted, and a friend answered the plea for somebody to do it. Then he wished he had not. And he talked with his father about the job. He sort of mentioned that he really did not want to do it. It was a boring, dull job. But his dad quoted that old bromide: “By the yard, it’s hard, but it’s a cinch by the inch”

 

So he got started, did one board at a time and was soon finished. Was he ever proud! He pointed out his work to everyone who would listen.

 

So the frog book really exists, and it is quite helpful. It looks as if it was even used as a text for some classes.

 

But how about those regrets? Things we did  to hurt, words we spoke and cannot take back, actions we really should not have taken? There is help for that too.