Upon Reflection...

Since writing this blog, I have been plagued with guilt. Though most of it not my own. I was surprised that, after only two or three entries, readers of the blog got in touch via email to tell me about their situations whether they be directly related to my own or tangibly.

I was also struck by one email I received asking me if I felt ashamed of myself, for my actions, my deceit. Well, here is my answer to that question:

Simply, I am not ashamed of any of the things I've done.

Many of them were, in retrospect, perhaps not the right things to have done. In some cases they were, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the wrong things to have done.

I have compromised my morals and values and sometimes the ones of those surrounding me. I have devalued myself, degraded myself and undermined myself. Sold myself short and given others reason to think less of me. I have ignored advice and better judgement.

I have been angry, jealous, gluttonous and proud. I am almost always lazy, greedy or lustful.

But, not once, never, have I been malicious, calculated or intentionally inconsiderate.

I am not defined by my actions. And nor are you.