“There is no person punished so severely as those who submit to the whip of their own remorse,” wisely summarizes Lucius Annaeus Seneca, first-century Roman philosopher (qtd. in ThinkExist. com Quotations ). Effectively illustrating this idea as a pithy confessional, the short story "I Stand Here Ironing" is written in autobiographical style by Tillie Olsen, contrasting the festering damage created by unresolved internal remorse with the reassuring serenity generated by unconditional acceptance. Unfortunately, this stark reality often becomes the heartbreaking situation of the nescience parent. That said, taking a closer look at Olsen's story will undeniably demonstrate that a conflicted introspective battle between remorse and contentment can only be resolved through the emancipation of unconditional acceptance. When experiencing regret, a person has a tendency to repeatedly repeat the details of whatever caused that emotion. However, recounting past events is only the first step in the healing process, but it is not the final solution. This is abundantly evident in Olsen's story which begins with the narrator's rapid emotional descent into remorse. This happens when, as she has probably done a thousand times before, an anonymous third party questions the mother about her eldest daughter, Emily, asking how they can “help” and “understand” her better (Olsen 607), because surely she would know. Unfortunately, the response to this request sends the helpless mother into oblivion, into the valley of regret. Through Olsen's strong symbolism, the reader becomes more acutely aware of the internal "torment" he feels as he recalls his callous method of raising Emily. Consequently, because the mother “moves…back and forth” emotionally,…in the center of the paper…doesn't automatically mean something negative. Therefore, although deep emotions are involved in the healing process, we now know that love and acceptance, not guilt, and sadness free us from wasting precious energy on negative thoughts and open up a whole new opportunity, being able to enjoy the positive side of regret. Works Cited PageKathryn Schulz. “Do not regret regret.” 2011.Video. TED Conferences, LLC, New York. Network. 24 April 2012. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/kathryn_schulz_don_t_regret_regret.htmlOlsen, Tillie. "I'm here to iron." Literature: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, and writing. Ed. Kennedy, XJ and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2011. 607-612. Print.ThinkExist.com Quotes. "Seneca Quotes." ThinkExist.com Online Quotes. March 1, 2012. Web April 23, 2012. http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/seneca/