A Life Without Regrets

Managing the Regret in Your Life What are your regrets? No matter who you are or what kind of life you lead, you're certain to have had regrets in life. Regrets happen to everyone. It is a feeling we experience when deep down inside we're sorry for doing something. Often, we regret things that are the same or very similar. These can include actions such as: Saying something hurtful to a loved one Betraying a lover's trust An argument with a friend Losing your temper with a child Regret is a very trying emotion, because it sticks with you from the first moment and seems to go on forever. Over time, we carry more and more regret with us every day. What makes us do such regretful things? The answer to that question is simple; we're all human. Being human means that we're prone to bouts of thoughtlessness and carelessness. Even worse can be the regret that we feel for not doing something, instead of regretting something we did do. These regrets can be even more difficult to handle. This is also caused by our being human. Just as we are sometimes thoughtless and careless, we're also sorry for the lives we did not live to their fullest. Among the worst of this type of regret is losing someone you love without having said goodbye. On occasion, seniors are requested to answer surveys. These questionnaires often ask seniors to reflect on their lives to identify how they'd have changed their lives if they could. In almost every case, the answer is the same. There is a regret there about things that they didn't do, or didn't do often enough. This is far more frequent than wanting to change things that they did. Among the most common responses, were that the seniors wished that they had: Played more Laughed more Trusted more Volunteered more Donated more Sung out loud Danced to the music Made friends with the neighbors Tried "strange" or exotic foods Done something trivial...just because Reveled in a sudden rain shower Tried that restaurant that they kept saying they'd try Told friends how much they mean Tell loved ones how much they're loved. There is a lot of wisdom to be learned from people who have lived longer than we have. You can wear your seatbelt, and still laugh at bad drivers instead of getting frustrated. You can get good grades and do well at work, without obsessing your entire life about it. You can tell your family how much you love them...even when you sometimes think you don't. Deep down, you know you do, so tell them every day. Most importantly, don't forget that there's nothing wrong with taking your time every now and again. Instead of rushing everywhere and getting frustrated and stressed with every obstacle, take your time and enjoy life. This doesn't just apply to trips in your car, but to everything in life. Instead of thinking only about your destination, slow down and enjoy the journey that takes you there.