When Your Only Regret is Having One Life to Give to Your Country

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. _ Nathan Hale (1755 - 1776)

As a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary war, Nathan Hale volunteered for an even more dangerous task. He became a spy and was tasked to go behind enemy lines, infiltrate the British Army and send back intelligence reports to his commanders.

Its not that being a soldier was an easy task, a safer one. No, but being a spy posed a much greater risk. Espionage was immediately punishable by death - no questions asked.

Unfortunately for Hale, he was caught. Other accounts have it that he was betrayed but that is secondary to the matter at hand. Just before being hanged, Hale said, among other things that "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

How About Not Embarrassing Ourselves in 2016!

Its that time of the year when everyone has got something nice to say about the direction they would like their lives to take. Do you have your list already?

This year, and really going forward, I'll just stick to one thing: not embarrassing myself! Now, a list of resolutions would have been nice. I would sound like a thoughtful person who has carefully considered his options and decided on the course that his life would take.