Regrets

One of the new trends in our society is to have no regrets about life. The thought is that you can't be happy with your life as it is and at the same time have regrets. This is a lie. I am very happy with my life but I still have regrets. Everyone should have regrets. If you really think about all the aspects that have made up your life, there's no way you can say I made every decision the right way and wouldn't change a thing in my life. You're lying to yourself if you do.

Before we go into specifics, let's define what a regret really is. It's as simple as wishing you would have done something differently. It doesn't have to be a huge deal. It could be wishing you had gotten the lobster instead of the chicken at the restaurant last week. It's a change in something you've done.

Now, let's see all the many ways, big and small, you would change something in.

School

Most of us have at least 13 years of school under our belts, so there's a lot to choose from. Switching a class, paying more attention in class, paying less attention in class, studying more/less, not being the school bully, being the school bully, turning in more homework than you did, playing a sport, being a cheerleader, joining a club, asking a girl out, not asking a girl out, going to a dance, going to a dance with someone else.. these are all examples. Plus I would think most of us have something embarassing that happened to us at some point in high school.

Work

On time everyday? Never been late or took a "sick" day? Ever not taken a "sick" day when you wanted to? Maybe it wouldn't have changed much long-term, but maybe it was worth it that one time. And I'm sure you entered in every single piece of information accurately. No times you wanted to tell your boss off and didn't? Maybe a client? Or maybe you did and you wished you hadn't. Wished you had a different job? There's a lot in this category to cover.

Personal

This is one that EVERYBODY is included in. Ever have a bad thought? Ever wanted to? Relationships? Money? Social life? Addictions? Movies? Cars? Tons of stuff.

Sports

I put this one here for everyone that's ever missed a shot, dropped a ball, or didn't quite finish the race in the time they wanted. I missed a game-tying shot the other night. I wish it would've went in: there's a regret.

Spiritual

Are you perfect? No, and you won't be in this life. Whether you believe in God or someone else, you probably strive to be the best person you can be. Return missionaries...talk to everyone you possibly could have during your mission? Probably not. Make mistakes? Of course you did. Those are regrets; you'd change them if you could.

So don't say you don't have any regrets in life. Yea, some of the wrong choices may have led you the way you wanted to go or maybe the way you eventually went and love, but there are a ton of smaller choices out there that you would change if you could. You shouldn't dwell on things, especially small things, that you did or didn't do. Most of the regrets you have are probably ones you COULD live with, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't change a thing or two if you could go back and do it again. It's like most things in life: if you don't fail at it at least once or twice, you're probably not giving it all that you have.