As I look over the course of my life, I realize I have one regret: I spent most of it settling for less, and allowed myself to be swayed by experiences in which I should never have taken part. Almost all my choices and decisions came from a place of inadequacy. I have perceived myself as incompetent, and swirled in constant reminders of worthlessness. Each time a loving human or an exciting opportunity presented itself to me, I used to ask myself, “What did I do to deserve this?” Indeed, those feelings lessened after I got a slow drip of recognition years ago, only to form a shell around a vacuum. Sometimes, the thing that provides you with satisfaction is the same thing that plagues your heart. That is why I regard “Find your love” or “Follow your passion” as annoying, even immature, clichés. And truthfully, If I had known then what I know now, I would have saved myself a lot of grief. “Better late than never,” they say. But disappointment, once tasted, remains in the system like sour garlic.