Many adults are living with a regret from their earlier years. While it may take different forms, it often is something they did not do that they now wish they had done. A missed opportunity.
A lingering regret can be a nagging, negative thing that weighs on the person – baggage. Rarely do we ever hear the story of a “regretor” (a word I coined after learning what State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) did) who turns the regret into something positive – a motivation for action now to “fix” that missed opportunity of the earlier life.
A sterling example of a regretor who fixed it decades later is Orr, who represents Morgan, Limestone, Madison Counties.
Orr is a busy, busy person. Reading his bio on his official website, I asked myself, “How does one person have time to do all that?” Orr must have an effective time management system and a strong work ethic.
In each area of service that Orr undertakes, he goes above and beyond the call of duty. He makes a difference. He leaves a different world than before his work.
He didn’t just serve in the Peace Corps in poverty-stricken Nepal for three years. He watched and identified a problem – girls were married off at young ages and were not able to get an education. They were “relegated to a lifetime of despair with little hope for a better existence.” Orr used his training and contacts to establish a college scholarship program for female students. When Orr left the Peace Corps, his program stayed there, making a difference.
He didn’t just go back overseas and build homes through Habitat for Humanity in poverty-stricken Bangladesh for three years. He built an ongoing program that continues to construct over 2,000 homes with the working poor helping to build their own homes.
He didn’t just become executive vice president of Cook’s Pest Control, operating in seven states with 2,000 employees, headquartered in Decatur. He helped envision the Cook Museum. Who would have thought that a “bug museum” would become a popular educational resource and tourist attraction?
He doesn’t just go to Montgomery as the state senator for three growing North Alabama counties. He identifies citizen programs in his district in which state government and their taxpayer funds could help without getting in the way. He then works with the leaders of each citizen service and program to assist.
The Robotics Technology Park in Limestone County
The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Madison County
The Alabama Center for the Arts in Morgan County
Chairman of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission that celebrated the 200th anniversary of the state in 2019
Hartselle City Library
Girl Scout Emma Landrum’s “Forgotten Warriors” project
Town of Triana’s Veterans Memorial
Electronic sign at James Clemens High School
Playground at Leon Sheffield Elementary School
…and dozens more.
The first time Arthur Orr shows up at a citizens’ program, he is observing and listening for needs. The second time he shows up, he is bringing a check.
So with all this activism, when would Arthur Orr have time to spend to fix a personal regret from decades ago?
His regret took time and effort to fix — five years. He had always regretted not studying military history and getting a degree in that field, of which he has always been fascinated.
He researched and found a respected online university that offered such a degree. He entered the program five years ago through Austin Peay University.
Fast forward five years. He has been awarded a Master’s Degree in Military History. He has the degree, but, more importantly, the knowledge of military history that he always regretted not getting.
Here is the story in Arthur Orr’s own words:
“One of the nagging regrets in life I always had was not majoring in History during my undergraduate days many years ago. Because I find military history a fascinating subject, I searched for an online graduate program across the country back in 2018 and found a military history concentrated offering at Austin Peay in Tennessee.
The diploma came in the mail marking the end of classes over the last five years (and many nights, early mornings and weekends of reading and writing) and a successful round of comprehensive exams. I wanted to share this to encourage anyone out there to pursue goals that might appear unattainable or to put to rest a past regret. We live in a great country that provides tremendous opportunities for those who seek them. You CAN do it!
Arthur Orr turned regret into results. You can, too.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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