Keep Regret Buried Deep

Feb 19

As I head toward my 75th year of life I have been thinking a lot about the “what ifs.”

What if my parents had divorced before I was born? What if my mother had not died when I was 12 but lived to be a grandmother? What if I had been born a boy and been chosen to take over my father’s general contracting company?

What if I had drowned when I was three and had toddled into the ocean, fortuitously saved by my Auntie Peg? What if I had been a straight-lace instead of a hippie? What if I had married the first love of my life, or the second or the third?

What if I had disobeyed my father and pursued a career in medicine? What if I had never smoked or experimented with LSD or survived that horrible car accident?

Where would I be today if I had not met the true love of my life and father of my children? What if I had convinced him to live in New York City instead of the quiet hills of Vermont?

What if I had not answered the ad for a Director of Operations for a new development company hoping to resurrect the Burlington Waterfront? What if I had broken my neck cliff diving or sky diving or just diving headfirst into the many abysses I threw myself into?

And there have been many. I have journeyed down the rabbit hole many times and I often wonder what would have happened if I had not found my way back.

The choices we make are fateful. The mosaic of time, space and thought brightens the fabric of our lives. That fork in the road where we determine the best path to take ultimately sets into motion the ripples of our existence. Because of these ripples our life’s course is set in motion.

We need to embrace the flow of our lives because that is what defines our destiny. Keep regret buried deep in that rabbit hole along with all of our “what ifs.” Because our moments are as they should be for no other reason than that “they are” and they will forevermore be tethered to our own personal human existence.

Melinda Moulton

In May of 2022, Melinda Moulton joined her husband Rick Moulton as Executive Producer of the documentary film company they both founded in 1972. Rick Moulton Productions. She was involved in environmental and socially conscious redevelopment since 1983. Melinda provided the leadership to produce a 40-year incremental redevelopment project for the Burlington Vermont Waterfront, and spearheaded 250,000 square feet and thirty million dollars of built environment on Burlington’s Waterfront. Melinda Chaired the Boards of the Burlington Parking & Transportation Council, Burlington Business Association, Vermont Retail Association, and The Intervale Center. She served on the Boards of the YMCA, Lund Family Center, Chittenden East School District, Opportunities Credit Union, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, The Orton Family Foundation, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Main Street Alliance, Vermont Health Care for All, College Steps, The Folklife Center, Audubon Vermont, and the Vermont Arts Council. She was a member of the Vermont Business Roundtable. .
She presently serves on the Boards of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England's Action Fund, ACLU-Vermont, and the Williston Restorative Justice Center's Executive Council. Governor Peter Shumlin appointed Melinda to the Vermont Pathways From Poverty and The Vermont Commission on Women. Melinda served on the Advisory Councils of the Vermont Green Building Network, University of Vermont’s 2020 “Leading By Design” Sustainability Task Force, the Childhood Hunger Council of Chittenden County, and Patient Choices Vermont. She participated on the development and ultimate steering committee for the Burlington Legacy Project. She serves as a Trustee of the Community Sailing Center.
Melinda was honored by the Burlington Business Association with the Nathan Harris Award in recognition of her contribution to the economic vitality of downtown Burlington. She was also honored with the Vermont Business for Social Responsibilities Terry Ehrich Award. Melinda hosts her TV Interview Show "Moments with Melinda" on Channel 17, CCTV which is syndicated across the State of Vermont. Episodes can be seen on her web site www.melindamoulton.com.

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