Any of you read The remains of the day by Kazuo Ishiguro?
It was a life of a perfectionist butler who served an English lord without questioning what the lord does. He was an immaculate butler who may have done some wrongs by following his master's orders. What would be the meaning of his life? He said the quote below at the end of the book. I can't help feeling it could be our lives as well.
"One can't be forever dwelling on what might have been. One should realize one has as good as most, perhaps better and be grateful. The evening's the best part of the day. I should cease looking back so much. I should adopt a more positive outlook and try to make the best of what remains of the day. After all, what can we ever gain in forever looking back and blaming ourselves if our lives have not turned out quite as we might have wished? The likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause of pride and contentment."