”If I had my life to live over again, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax. I’d limber up. I’d be sillier than I’ve been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances, I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones. You see, I’m one of those people who was sensible and sane, hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments. If I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else—just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I could do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had to live my life over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances, I would ride more merry-go-rounds, I would pick more daisies.”
Nadine Stair, an 85-year-old woman
Source: Chicken Soup for the Soul 20th Anniversary Edition
Regrets of old people
- Not being careful enough when choosing a life partner
- Not resolving a family conflict
- Putting off saying how you feel
- Not traveling enough
- Spending too much time worrying
- Not being honest
- Not taking enough career chances
- Not taking care of your body
- Not following my dreams earlier
- Not keeping in touch with important people
- Not appreciating when being younger
- Not listening to myself
- Not being aware
- Taking life too seriously
- Being ungrateful
- Not apologizing more
- Not having spent enough time with my parents
- Not saying no to things
- For not knowing when I was younger what I know now
- That I didn’t do all the things that I wanted to do.
- Worrying about other people’s opinions
- Staying married for your kids (staying in a bad marriage is the number one regret of people over 50)
- Getting divorced (around 1 in 3 people regrets their divorce)
- Not preparing their kids for independence
- Not spending more time with your kids
- Trying to live up to your parents’ expectations
- Not finding fulfillment
- Muting your real personality
- Not seeking help sooner
- Not accomplishing more
- Working too much
- Missing out on investment opportunities
- Not taking vacations
- Not being more adventurous
- Not being more spontaneous
- Not eating healthier
- Missing out on the little moments
- Not having the courage to list a life true to myself
- Not to live my life as expected by others
- Not having the courage to express my feelings
- I wish I had let myself to be happy
An interesting video regarding regrets – from 5 to 75:
“Do you wish you accomplished more?”
– “No, I wished I loved more.”
Someone
Be more You – because being you removes regrets from your life.
It takes a lot of effort and never steps.