My Regrets for 2022

While many of us can look back at all of 2022's beautiful memories with friends and family, the horrific news stories, and the goals we plan to set for the following year, I like to review some of my regrets and failures.

While it's great to celebrate small and large victories this year, we also must take a look at where we fucked up a lot. Whether that's friendships we tossed away, having no time to visit family, passion projects left to wither, or a lot of show watching that didn't need to happen, there's plenty of things we could have said no to, but didn't.

It's okay though because we all mess quite a bit.

I can't name a single person that isn't flawed... although the closest thing to a perfect human being would be the man from the Dos Equis beer commercials.

You know who I'm talking about.

Despite having won/turned down multiple Nobel prizes, being able to speak 7 languages, and possessing an epic beard/voice combo, even Dos Equis executives saw a powder-y old man whose image was larger than life, but apparently couldn't resonate with the younger drinkers. So, they handed him his retirement papers.

A shame we didn't get more commercials of this magnificent man.

Anyways, before I start shedding tears, here are a few things I regretted this year. Maybe these regrets are some you have felt as well.

I've also come up with solutions as to how to not let these regrets become lingering issues next year.

Let's get to it.

Regret # 1: Not Writing More Articles

I finally embraced the identity of an online writer. I have committed to writing at least once a day for the last 2 months and I've been writing weekly for 6 months.

James Clear mentioned that if one can identify with what they want to be as opposed to focusing on the outcome, their chances of succeeding will grow exponentially.

A superior athlete shouldn't worry about getting big contracts unless they work hard as a superior athlete.

An eloquent and creative writer shouldn't worry about how many subscribers unless they work hard on their word flow, descriptive abilities, and posting work.

It helps also that one builds a large body of work in order to strengthen that identity.

Volume in work is critical at the start of any new endeavor.

Quantity is the antidote to the "disease of perfectionism", as Ali Abdaal says.

Thanks to the multiple newsletters and posts I put out (no matter how rough they are), I can call myself a writer.

So, if it's such a good thing that I'm writing so much, then what's the regret here?

The regret is that I started way later than I should have.

I was looking over some of my journal entries and I kept affirming to myself that I would be a great writer and that I would excel in the craft. That's cute and all, but if I wasn't ballsy enough to put that work out sooner, how else could I work up to be an excellent writer?

I could have started over a year ago and had 100's of more articles to reflect on. I could have focused more on creating quality posts instead building up my portfolio this late in age.

It sucks to know that you could have started things sooner had you grown a pair to discover what you're capable of a while back, while ignoring the distractions and criticisms that might not come.

How to kill this regret: Simply just write more and accept critical feedback. Kobe Bryant knew that every shot, every rebound, and drill in practice, just meant he was solidifying his identity of a great basketball player. His Mamba mentality transfers to just about anything, including writing. Write more than others. Write every day with passion.

Regret # 2: Not Cooking More

Ever noticed how proud and arrogant one can be after they cook an amazing meal?

I can't be the only one!

This past week, I got to grill for my mom's birthday, and it felt good.

Growing up, it was my grandfather who played the role of grill master for the family and now here I was, cooking for mom on her special day.

It was the first time that I had grilled in a while. I didn't look forward to the cleaning and scraping of the grates, the charcoal stacking, the lighting of the grill, and the waiting for the briquets to turn grey.

All of that work and the damn meat still hasn't been placed on the wire rack!

After the meat (Cecina and Carne Asada) is thrown on the heat, then came the tending to it. A lot of people love to move it around, but I sat there looking at it in between watching Apocalypto's brutal human sacrifice scene. A few minutes on one side, now it can be touched and flipped.

Once it's done, then it went into a pot. Growing up, we never waited until all the meat was cooked to eat. We ate it as it was coming hot off the grill. The cook can be served a plate, but they can't leave their post until everything is done. The cook doesn't get to break bread with others.

It was a great time and the meat turned out wonderful. My familia loved how it turn out.

If cooking is such a great thing, why is it a regret for me this year?

The regret is that I didn't cook more often.

During the peak months of the pandemic, I was making a huge mess in the kitchen. If I wasn't making sous vide steaks, I was shaping dough for breads or pizza. If I wasn't cooking French toast, I was marinating chicken or beef for tomorrow's dinner.

Despite being locked in my apartment while COVID-19, I felt free to explore my kitchen and I got to see how passionate I really could be using my hands as tools.

It was through cooking that I demonstrated that I could focus on shit.

This year, I didn't make fresh bread. I didn't grill more than a couple of times. I didn't break out my Wok that I got for my birthday more than twice. Maybe it was because I was lazy or maybe there was so much to do in the real world.

The irony being that I wasted so much time doing things I didn't want to instead hovering over a hot stove or pan.

How to kill the regret: Do the same thing as the previous regret's solution. Cook more. Not once did I ever regret cooking fresh bread because it was something I made from scratch. I regret always buying the bread since I felt like I cheated myself out of working for a meal. Gordon Ramsey once said, “Kitchens are hard environments, and they form incredibly strong characters.” One can get burned or cut while cooking, but that's what makes it fun. There's a little bit of danger involved in making meals. That danger makes for a good story and a bloody good meal!

Regret # 3: Writing Actual Music

Anytime I listen to music at a department store or if I'm scanning the indie rock playlist on my phone, I'm envisioning myself making some of the songs sound better. Whether I'm adding an effect pedal on a melodic riff (say a wah-wah), a tighter drumming roll during the chorus, or a heavier bass line to compliment the aggressive kick drum, I think about it and then I start drumming on shelves or finger picking the made-up line on my air guitar.

It looks and sounds goofy that I'm speaking about it out loud.

Despite all that "effort" I make in my head, I never pick up an actual instrument, hit record, and play it. All the years of practicing my music chops and I never had the courage to write actual music.

How can I say that I'm "making" songs better if I'm not proving it out loud?

The regret is not putting out music in fear that it will sound shitty.

How to kill the regret: Grow a pair and put yourself out there. Bill Withers was working as an assembly worker when he crafted his first album. He put in his own money into studio time, but most importantly, he took a risk to put his work out there. He didn't have high expectations for his music (He thought the music industry was "fickle" even after writing the hit single "Ain't No Sunshine") and yet it seemed to work out for him. I'm not saying my music is going to be as good, but maybe I could put my work out there to say that I wrote music too when I'm an old man.

Th link below is my 2nd attempt claiming to be a musician. It's not good at all, but I might as well prove that I can put myself out there using a microphone only. No regrets.

https://soundcloud.com/crush-sanchez/una-cancion-para-los-weirdos?si=125486c0afbb4f318eee430b6fde3b92&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Regret # 4: Not Eating More Tacos

I love tacos to death. I don't care what day it is; I want to eat them at least 4 in one sitting.

Fish, machaca, al pastor, chorizo, asada, canasta, carnitas, pollo, and calabaza. Any of those can be served and I'll happily eat it up.

Tacos are one of the best handheld/standing up foods to eat outside of burgers. It's one of the greatest things to come out of Mexico and I'm glad to have that connection with my tierra madre, even though I can't speak Espanol for shit.

The regret I have is I didn't eat enough tacos this year. I was projected to eat 4 tacos twice a week for the year. I didn't get a chance to even eat 4 a week, every week.

All the times I could have saved waiting for a fast-food line, I could have had some delicious tacos instead.

Plus 4 tacos and a canned soda will STILL cost you less than a burger combo at the golden arches.

How to kill the regret: Find the local taco trucks or stops. Spend some time there and order a few tacos. It's better to enjoy food in a few bites or standing up.

These 4 regrets have been a thorn on my side this year and I hope to be able to conquer them by doing more of the activities and by throwing myself into my craft without fear of judgement.

Whatever regrets you may have this year, may you gain the strength to beat them the following year. It's better to get rid of as many regrets as possible before you die or before you start to lose energy as the years go by.

Be sure to get these taken care of.

Thanks for reading.