Do you regret things in your life?
By Carl Halling
@CarlHalling (3617)
United Kingdom
December 20, 2006 8:45am CST
I regret alot of things, especially opportunities and chances I have missed over the years. I still often suffer from regret, as I continue to make bad choices out of a variety of motives. Do you suffer from regret, or are you philosophical and calm about life and the decisions you make?
2 people like this
16 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
1 Jan 07
I suppose I could regret much. I could regret many of the things that happened to me in my young life, but I am thankful for them. The abuse and hardships made me what I am, and gave me the ability to counsel others who are experiencing the same things. I cannot regret them.
I suppose I could regret not being able to continue with my education, but I have had a good life and further education wasn't necessary, so I can't regret that.
I suppose I could regret all the wasted years before becoming a Christian. If I had become a Christian earlier, much trouble could have been avoided, but then, once again, I am thankful for those years. They made me appreciate what Christ has done for me much more than had I not had those experiences.
I can't say I have regrets about any of life's experiences, but I do regret smaller things, like not speaking a word of testimony when I have opportunity. However, my Lord is gracious, and when I tell Him about it, He almost invariably gives me another opportunity.
No, I don't think I would say I am philosophical and calm about life and the decisions I make. I would prefer to say that my life is in the hands of a loving Father God and He so directs me that I can have NO regrets.
So live, that when you come to die, you have nothing left to do, but die.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
4 Jan 07
I think Andre Gide had a totally different concept in his philosophy, which was earth-centred.
Mine is Christ-centred. "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" so my focus isn't so much on fulfilling my earthy hopes and in following my Father's will and fulfilling His purpose for me.
Thanks. God bless.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
4 Jan 07
Yes, CW, you are right. Gide was a shy and sensitive boy raised in the strict atmosphere of a northern French Protestant home. Ultimately however, he strayed far from the simple faith he saw and knew as a child. This created a struggle within his soul reflected in some of his greatest works.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
2 Jan 07
You have a great attitude. The great French author Andre Gide expressed a wish to die in a state whereby he had nothing further to live for, his hopes all expended; and yet unlike you, Gide had no faith in an afterlife, which is sad.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
20 Dec 06
Everyone regrets not having done something at one time or another in their lives. I try not to dwell on the shoulda, woulda, couldas. Life is what we are making of it now. Make each day a good day. Choose well now, for there may not be another tomorrow to do it again.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 06
Recently, it became chronic; I became regret personified, sick with regret. But I am better at the present time, and yes, appreciating each day as if it were my last, until I make my next mistake!!
:o)
@utsadetti (4589)
• United States
1 Jan 07
Regret things in my life? yeah, of course i regretted several bad things happened last year. But i should recover this year, buddy.
@apostrofy (661)
• Romania
28 Dec 06
yes unfortunatelly i always wanted to live my life in such a way that if i ever looked back not to regret a damn thing. most of the times i just think that if i'd had the chance to start all over again i would definetly not do alot of things. but when i stop to think at this i realize that i would miss all the experience i gained coz of those situations and decisions. and yet i still regret things that happened out of my will and control. things that happened and that weren't influenced by my decisions. but that's life with good and bad things. at least we can say we've learned something from the bad things and enjoyed the good ones.
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
1 Jan 07
If you don't make mistakes, you're not working on hard enough problems: and THAT is the BIGGEST mistake!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
31 Dec 06
Yes, good points. Perhaps we are too hard on ourselves, blaming ourselves for our past mistakes, instead of making use of them to improve our futures.
@shawntrell (135)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I have done many things that I am far from proud of, but I don't regret any of them. Every experience has made me a stronger, smarter person even if it did not seem so at the time. I believe that the poor choices a person makes is often out of a feeling that they do not deserve better.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
1 Jan 07
Thanks for your comment, and yes I do see what you mean about poor choices. That never occurred to me, but it makes very good sense.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
25 Dec 06
yeh that old saying that you only regret the things you haven't done is true in a way but it is always easy to look back and say I should have, yes I have many regrets and I am trying to live my life now and trying to not have any more of the regrets for things I hadn't done.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 06
Thanks LL. I empathise with you about regrets. I both regret things I did do and shouldn't have, and things I didn't, but should have. I'm lucky inasmuch as I've been granted time, health and opportunities to compensate for some of the follies of my earlier existence; but it still hurts sometimes. Happy New Year!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
31 Dec 06
That is exactly how I feel: Once I took my opportunities for granted; while now, more effort is needed in order to succeed. Whether I do or not only time can tell. Thanks for your response.
@ChaoticFury (139)
• United States
25 Dec 06
i believe everyone regrets something in there life. i regret that i haven't been able to spend time with my family and friends lately. i also regret procrastinating when i'm supposed to be studying for a test or finishing up my hw. i think regretting things help us to improve our lives. so sometimes it's great to regret things. however, i don't think regretting every bad thing you do is healthy. sometimes you have to let things go
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
28 Dec 06
You are right. I should be grateful I still have the chance to improve my lot. But sometimes it's hard not to feel bad at the utter craven folly of some of my past behaviour, I mean, Grade A absurdity! Still, each day brings opportunities to put things right. Happy New Year!
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
21 Dec 06
You are right. For me, the best cure for dwelling on past mistakes and unhappiness is to keep yourself busy with something you really enjoy: productive and enjoyable work in my view gives a person hope for a brighter future.
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
21 Dec 06
That's good. The next step of course is to learn from that lesson, or we repeat the same mistake over and over again. Thanks for your response.
@kjhasselstrom (304)
• United States
27 Dec 06
There are a lot of mistakes I have made that I regret. One regret I have is moving 2000 miles away from my family.
@nzinky (822)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I have never done anything I have regretted...But there has been some things I would have differently....When you regret things some people have never come to terms they did it but I own everything I did in my life......That what makes me who I am........
@BittyBiddy (2903)
• Ireland
20 Dec 06
I regret not listening to my mother. If she ever reads this "Yes, you WERE right".