I'm Living With So Much Regret

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day – "I'm Living With So Much Regret"

Episode Title: I'm Living With So Much Regret
Release Date: January 19, 2025
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Platform: SiriusXM Triumph 111

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Dr. Laura Schlessinger, renowned for her forthright advice on ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility, addresses a poignant and heartfelt issue in her episode titled "I'm Living With So Much Regret." The episode delves deep into the emotional turmoil of regret and the path toward healing and personal growth.

Caller Introduction: Tim's Struggle with Regret

At [00:37], Dr. Laura welcomes Tim, a caller who has been grappling with immense regret over his life choices. Tim shares his life story, marked by significant challenges and setbacks:

• Family and Career Decline: Tim had custody of his three children from a young age—ages 2, 6, and 8. He managed to secure a well-paying job with a six-figure salary but faced personal issues, including substance abuse, which he claims to have resolved. Despite his efforts, he switched jobs and finds himself living paycheck to paycheck.

• Children's Challenges: Two of Tim's adult children are struggling with drug issues, adding to his emotional burden.

• Failed Relationships and Health Issues: Tim reveals that his long-term love interest is battling a life-threatening heart condition, compounding his stress and feelings of helplessness.

• Financial Loss and Broken Dreams: At [01:30], Tim recounts losing his farm and the house he intended to build for his daughter, which was foreclosed upon, leading to the loss of his dream and assets.

Tim's narrative is one of accumulated setbacks—financial instability, familial issues, and unfulfilled dreams—all contributing to his pervasive sense of regret.

Dr. Laura’s Guidance: Shifting Focus and Embracing Personal Responsibility

Dr. Laura responds with her characteristic directness and pragmatic advice:

• Challenging the Caller’s Perspective: At [02:05], Dr. Laura challenges Tim to reconsider his current mindset. She asks, "What is your game plan for your life between now and dead?" pushing him to think about his future beyond his regrets.

• Encouraging Personal Accountability: She vehemently advises Tim to "stop with the kids," emphasizing that their journey to recovery is their responsibility, not his burden to carry alone. Dr. Laura asserts, "Forget about getting your kids clean and sober. That's their job."

• Promoting Self-Improvement and Social Engagement: Dr. Laura suggests that Tim engage with his community to rebuild his life. At [06:24], she recommends he visit the local community center to participate in activities like playing chess, thereby fostering social connections and personal fulfillment.

• Focusing on Personal Growth Over Financial Struggles: Rather than dwelling on financial losses and past mistakes, Dr. Laura urges Tim to cultivate a life that minimizes future regrets. She states, "I'd like you to have a life so when you're dying you don't have more regrets that you gave up on living."

Notable Quotes

• Tim’s Expression of Despair:
  "Now I'm just living in regret. You know, I know I made. I made my mess. I got laying it, but it's eating me up." [02:58]

• Dr. Laura’s Challenge to Tim:
  "What is your game plan for between now and the day you're dead? Do you want to travel? Do you want to live in Alaska?" [02:05]

• Encouragement to Engage Socially:
  "Every town has a place for older people to get together. It's a community center. I want you to go to the community center several times a week and play chess or do something else there with other people." [06:24]

Insights and Conclusions

Throughout the episode, Dr. Laura emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's life, regardless of past mistakes or present difficulties. She advocates for:

• Personal Responsibility: Accepting accountability for one’s actions and their consequences.
• Active Engagement: Participating in community activities to foster connections and personal satisfaction.
• Positive Mindset: Shifting focus from regret to proactive self-improvement to mitigate future remorse.

Dr. Laura's approach underscores the belief that while one cannot change the past, one can influence the future by making deliberate and constructive choices in the present.

Final Thoughts:

"I'm Living With So Much Regret" serves as a compelling exploration of the human capacity to overcome adversity through self-reflection and proactive change. Dr. Laura Schlessinger provides a clear roadmap for listeners facing similar struggles, advocating for a life lived with intention and resilience.

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Connect with Dr. Laura:

To join Dr. Laura's live radio program or seek personalized advice, visit DrLaura.com and consider becoming a Family member for additional resources and support.

Transcript

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[Dr. Laura]

Thanks for downloading my Call of the Day podcast. You too can participate in my live radio program heard weekdays from 2 to 5pm Eastern on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Tim, welcome to the program.

[Caller]

Oh, hey, Dr. Laura. How are you doing today?

[Dr. Laura]

Excellent. What's happening?

[Caller]

Okay, so real quick. I've had custody of my children since they were, you know, 2, 6 and 8 and they're all now, let's see, 22, 24 and 27, raising them. I had a, you know, really great job over six figures and I was a good time Charlie and you know, had some issues. I've got all that cleaned up now. Since then I've switched jobs. I'm kind of paycheck to paycheck. Got two of my kids kind of messed up on drugs. And you know, I have a love in my life I've met 10 years ago. Unfortunately, she has a hundred percent blocked cardiac artery. So living like Peter Pan all of a sudden, I went whack. I'm 61 years old now. So during that I spent my savings, I spent some 401k to. I had a farm and I was going to build a house for one of my daughters that did that turned it over to them to. They were going to pay me rent. Anyway they did foreclosed. There went the dream house to dream everything. Horses and all that. Gone. So now I'm just living in regret. You know, I know I made. I made my mess. I got laying it, but it's eating me up.

[Dr. Laura]

Well, what's our game plan for your life between now and dead?

[Caller]

That's what I'm saying. I'm trying to save money.

[Dr. Laura]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. What is your game plan? What's your plan between now and dead? What is it you're building toward?

[Caller]

Just work hard and try to, you know, build you get them in some kind of program.

[Dr. Laura]

Okay, stop with the kids. Okay, stop with the kids. Let them sink or swim. What is your game plan for between now and the day you're dead? Do you want to travel?

[Caller]

Wow.

[Dr. Laura]

Do you want to live in Alaska?

[Caller]

I can't afford.

[Dr. Laura]

What is your game plan you're talking over?

[Caller]

I don't have it. I don't have money to do anything again. I'm paycheck to paycheck but I just need that keep my sunny disposition somehow and I'm losing it. I wake up and I'm just ah regret.

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[Dr. Laura]

Do you know how to play chess?

[Caller]

Not really. I'm more of a backbone kind of guy.

[Dr. Laura]

That means you know it a little bit, right?

[Caller]

Yes ma'am. Yes ma'am.

[Dr. Laura]

Every town has a place for older people to get together. It's a community center. I want you to go to the community center several times a week and play chess or do something else there with other people.

[Caller]

Okay?

[Dr. Laura]

Forget about getting your kids clean and sober. That's their job. You have no power to do that between now and dead. I'd like you to have a life so when you're dying you don't have more regrets that you gave up on living. You just got up and fretted every day. So go to the community center starting tomorrow. My number 1-800-375-2872. If you like this podcast, be sure to rate it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite place to listen to my podcast. Of course, I'd love if you gave me five. And be sure to share this podcast with a friend on Facebook or your preferred social media platform.

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