Self-criticism
Mistakes we made. The wrong words spoken. Bad choices. Wouldn't it be nice if we could go back in time and erase bad episodes? Replace them with better, more preferable alternatives that are not tainted with regret or still subject to self-flagellation. Sadly, no such facility is available and we all have to live with the consequences of our actions and what we said or didn't say. I guess there are some sunny people out there who can just brush away the negative stuff and rejoice in their happy times, their moments of fulfilment and proud achievement. But I am not one of those. I just cannot help myself. Frequently, I replay scenes or moments from my past that I still beat myself up about years later. I curse at myself and shake my head, occasionally muttering expressions under my breath like: "You stupid bastard!" or "Why? Why the hell did you say that?" Am I alone in this? Is it just me? Up at last night's pub quiz in "The Hammer and Pincer...