This past Father’s Day, a beautiful moment unfolded in the most unexpected way—over a summer school assignment.
My daughter, an art student, decided to tackle a personal finance course over the summer. Now, finance isn’t really her thing—she’s all creativity and color, while this kind of material speaks more to me. (I majored in business finance, so you can imagine how different our academic interests are.)
As we worked through her assignment together, she neared the end and asked, “Should I go back and double-check all my answers?”
I paused, smiled, and asked, “Did you go through each question carefully? Do you feel good about your work?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I do.”
That’s when I shared with her a piece of wisdom passed down from my father—her grandfather. One of the best pieces of advice he ever gave me was this:
“Never regret anything you do.”
It may sound simple, but it’s something I’ve carried with me through school, through parenting, and into my professional life. When you’ve taken the time to think something through, when you’ve shown up and done the work—don’t second-guess yourself into regret. Trust yourself. Don’t let self-doubt undo your effort.
I told her, “Sometimes we can overthink things, go back and change answers, and end up second-guessing ourselves right out of a win.”
She submitted her assignment, passed, and smiled in relief.
I reminded her, “See? If you had gone back and changed it, the outcome could’ve been different.”
Trust the Process, Embrace the Lesson
Whether the outcome is what you hoped for or not, it’s still a lesson—and lessons are valuable. Sometimes we learn what works, other times we learn what doesn’t. But either way, we grow.
This Father’s Day, I realized how powerful it is when advice is passed down—father to daughter, mother to child. It felt full circle, spiritual, and fulfilling to give her something I’ve been carrying with me since I was 15 years old. Hopefully, it’s as valuable to her as has been for me. I HAD TO TAKE MY OWN ADVICE
So the next time you’re faced with a decision, ask yourself: Have I done my best? Have I been intentional? If so, then move forward with peace.
And remember:
Never regret the steps you took to grow. Even the missteps can lead you exactly where you need to be.
Journal Prompt for Reflection:
Think of a piece of advice you’ve carried with you over the years. Who gave it to you? When have you used it? How has it shaped your choices?
RosalynLynn
Be you so you can be free.