The 50 Things You Don't Want To Regret When You Die
Our generation is quickly growing older. We are beginning to understand the importance of using our time efficiently and fully. Even now, looking back a few years, we can certainly come up with a handful of regrets we have. We all regret doing some things and not doing others.
Now, imagine how much you will regret if you keep living your life exactly the same way you currently are, making the same mistakes over and over again.
You would think we would reflect and grow, learning not to make the same mistakes time and time again.
Yet, most of us are stuck on some sort of hamster wheel, pretending we will begin to live more fully, but never taking the leap. Read this article carefully and take in each point. Are you going to have these regrets as you age?
1. Not having more sex. It gets harder with age. (Actually, softer.)
2. Not allowing yourself to fall in love. It can be a scary thing to love and to let your guard down, but the only way to feel great pleasure is to risk feeling great pain.
3. Not learning a different language. It will introduce you to a whole new culture and an entirely new perspective.
4. Not traveling more. The world is yours; explore it while you are still able.
5. Letting the "one that got away" get away. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked out; maybe it would have.
6. Eating all that over-processed food. It eventually catches up with you.
7. Not exercising enough. The body is a machine. If you maintain it, it’s more likely to keep running.
8. Getting that tattoo. It looked like a kitten at first… now it’s just an ugly, stretched-out horse of some sort.
9. Not taking more calculated risks. If you don’t risk, you don’t win.
10. Taking too many uncalculated risks. Calculate and only then decide to act; you may decide it’s not worth it.
11. Surrounding yourself with awful friends. You are, in large part, who you eat with.
12. Spending too much time in a crappy relationship. You knew how awful it was at the time, but you couldn’t get yourself to let go. Damn comfort zone.
13. Staying in too many nights. Life may not always be a party, but there should be a few festivals scattered throughout.
14. Being too busy. Busy can be good; busy can be bad. Don’t be too busy to enjoy life.
15. Never taking a moment to do absolutely nothing. Living doesn’t require anything but breathing. If you want to know what living really feels like, take a moment to do absolutely nothing.
16. Not giving it your all when your all was needed. You were too tired. You had other things you preferred to do. You didn’t want it badly enough. You missed your chance.
17. Making all those excuses. You can make all the excuses you want as long as you realize that one day, you will accept them as just that: excuses. It may not be until your dying breath, but realizing that you have been lying to yourself your whole life is not at all pleasant.
18. Blaming others for your misfortune. Point the finger at the mirror, instead.
19. Giving up. You can’t go back and redo what you did -- or in this case, didn’t do.
20. Giving into your fears. We all have things that scare us. Life sometimes may even scare us. However, giving into your fears is a coward’s way of saying, “I don’t want to try.”
21. Not letting those you care about know that you care about them. Actions speak louder than words. If you care about them, allow them to be part of your life.
22. Not telling those you love that you love them while you still had the chance. People aren’t around forever. Accidents happen; aging happens. Tell those you love how you feel before they're no longer around.
23. Not using that condom that one time. It was just that one time, and you’ve been scratching at that rash ever since.
24. Not putting a ring on it. Commitment is a scary thing. What if he or she turns out not to be the right person? Well, that's what divorce was created for.
25. Spending years pretending to be someone you’re not. Can you imagine spending even half your life hiding who you are and pretending to be someone else? You shouldn’t spend a day being someone you’re not.
26. Never taking the time to explore yourself. You are more complicated than you now believe. Get to know yourself better. You can be your best friend.
27. Never taking the time to explore your sexuality. Get the ropes and chains, the lotions and gags, or drizzle on some chocolate; get kinky. Why not?
28. Never having that threesome. Sure, you don’t need one. But dammit, you want one.
29. Spending time focusing and fussing over things that don’t matter. Time is a priceless commodity. You’re constantly spending it and can never buy it back.
30. Being too angry, too often. The world isn’t perfect. Most people are idiots. These facts won’t change, so why stress over them?
31. Moping around instead of living. Don’t feel sorry for yourself; it’s pathetic.
32. Taking a huge risk. We all need to take one big risk in our lives in order to feel that we really bet on ourselves and went all in. Otherwise, we are left with a menacing question: What if?
33. Not flossing. Your teeth won’t stay strong forever.
34. Not following your passion. Life should be your passion. If you aren’t passionate, you aren’t living.
35. Not loving intensely. Love and love deeply.
36. Allowing others to keep you down. You’re not a doormat. Don’t let others treat you as such.
37. Not speaking your mind. Brilliance isn’t brilliance if you keep it to yourself.
38. Following the herd. It’s for sheep only. You’re better than that. Lead; don’t follow.
39. Not dreaming big enough. If you’re going to devote your time to something, make it the craziest, most incredible something you possibly can. I’m going to be the world’s first trillionaire. How big is your dream?
40. Not crying or laughing enough. Emotions make us feel alive. Don’t bundle them up; let them free.
41. Not quitting that job you can’t stand. You should never do something you don’t want to do unless it gets you to somewhere you need to be.
42. Not taking the time to experience nature. You live in a world that goes beyond the walls of your apartment and office. Explore it. You don’t have to go far to better understand your place in it all.
43. Not trying the drugs you really wanted to try when you were younger. Yes, it can be dangerous; it’s a risk. I am, by no means, saying that people ought to do drugs, but if you want to try them, do it while you still have the energy to party all night.
44. Not taking responsibility for all your actions. It’s a part of growing as an individual. If you accept the outcome of your actions, even if the results are undesirable, you will be able to let go and move on with your life.
45. Eating the same thing all the time. Food is a big part of the human culture. Some chefs are more like magicians. You don’t want to miss out on one of life’s most delectable pleasures.
46. Saving all your money and never enjoying any of it. One of two things will happen: You’ll die with a very hefty bank account and no memories, or you’ll lose it before you decide to enjoy it.
47. Not saving a bit of money for a rainy day. A cushion is good to have during difficult times. But referring to #46, having a huge cushion is a waste.
48. Not being more social. Our interactions with people are crucial to our happiness. Don’t be shy; say hi.
49. Not making your own decisions. It’s your life; they’re your decisions to make. Don’t spend forever on them -- calculate, execute and move on.
50. Not supporting those you surround yourself with. People can do the impossible if they have enough people telling them that it’s possible.
