Regret

Do I have the right to feel lonely    
     when I chose the path I walk?    
Do I have the right to be sad,    
     knowing few will mourn my passing?    
   
Today I joined with others to say goodbye    
     to a man who showed us what life is for -    
to build & nurture a family legacy    
     of love & joy & peace & hope,    
and an immeasurable circle of friends
through which his spirit will flow forever.  
   
I come home to an empty house    
     with a dawning realization    
that breaks through my wall of denial:    
Maybe it's not all about me -    
     most of life anyway;    
Maybe a world of people living for themselves    
     (people too much like me)    
is a world that's ultimately dying.    
   
If I could've taken that to heart long ago,    
perhaps I could've walked in his footsteps.    
   
How do you know when it's too late    
     to jump off at the nearest exit    
and take a different highway?