These Are The Regrets You’ll Have On Your Deathbed
And how to prevent them from becoming a reality
“I wish I didn’t care so much about what others thought of me.”
Too often in life, especially in youth, we care a whole lot about what others think of us. It gets so bad that we won’t even do things we want to for fear of being judged.
As we grow older, however, we realize no one’s watching us. No one’s listening to us. The rest of the world doesn’t care what we’re doing, because everyone’s only concerned with themselves.
For many, learning not to care about how you’re perceived doesn’t come until too late. You’ll look back on your life and regret the time wasted and the decisions made or not made because you cared about your image.
“I wish I’d chased my dreams.”
It’s very easy to give up in life, to settle and be normal. Maybe you’re scared you won’t make it. You doubt your talent. It’s too much work to reach the mountain top. Or you’ve tried, and failure overwhelms you.
But the what-ifs and could-have-beens eat up the soul. When you really can’t chase your dreams, because you really are too old — that’s when the pain sets in.
Courage and persistence can’t be overstated. Without these two qualities, many of history’s greatest minds wouldn’t have achieved as they did.
“I wish I were healthier.”
Health isn’t something that’s constantly in our thoughts. When we age and actually see the damage caused by smoking, see our bodies breaking down from years of unhealthy eating, then the lightbulb flicks on.
But health is extremely important. Health is wealth, because without your health, you can’t function, and so can’t do what you please.
That’s why nutrition and exercise are emphasized. Lay the foundations from a young age for a more promising, happier old age. Research is now easier than ever with the internet jam-packed with resources and knowledge.
“I wish I had traveled more.”
It’s hard to travel when you’ve got responsibilities left and right. Family, work — the list goes on. Then there’s the complicating factors of money and time. Traveling is often out of the question.
But the world’s too beautiful to be left untouched. Travel can bring about inspiration. It can lead to self-discovery, even passion. It’s rare that you hear, “I wish I hadn’t traveled.”
Prioritizing trips and not getting overly comfortable in your routine are two ways to make traveling a real possibility. With proper budgeting and planning, the world’s waiting for all of us.
“I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends.”
Have you ever reminisced about high school and how you had a whole crew you hung out with? Or maybe a coworker you were close with, but you ended up going your separate ways?
Again, life’s daily demands are burdensome. Time flies and before we realize, we’re old. We feel isolated and lonely, and wish we would’ve nurtured ties to former friends.
But staying in touch takes effort. It takes messaging, emailing, Skyping, meeting up in person — all of that and more. But the rewards are priceless.
“I wish I’d appreciated the small things.”
Do you remember when you were a kid and you loved playing in puddles? Remember when you were fascinated with bugs and didn’t sleep the night before Christmas?
The innocence of childhood may not be retrievable. But being present and appreciating the moment by slowing down are.
It’s up to us to decelerate and decompress. We’re usually wound up so tight that we fail to recognize all that’s passing us by. But sitting in a park by yourself, or having a quiet dinner with your partner, can make all the difference.
“I wish I’d not worked so much.”
Overwork is no joke. Neither is your mortgage, doctor bills, grocery shopping, etc. We have more than we’d like on our plate, and it seems nearly everything costs money. Don’t we have to work ourselves to the bone to survive?
This is true, but not for every single working man and woman out there. Providing for your loved ones is one thing. But accepting that promotion for a higher salary and more social and professional cachet is something different.
There’s a fine line between the right amount and too much. Too much money doesn’t sound relatable, but understand that money won’t solve all your problems. And it certainly won’t be what you miss when you’re about to die.
“I wish I’d been a better person.”
Morally speaking, being a decent person shouldn’t be too challenging. But we all make mistakes, and we all have times where, faced with a tough decision, we must weigh the options and consequences.
Whether it’s a crime that went unpunished or a small faux-pas at a party to impress someone, we’re all guilty of screwing up.
Though you shouldn’t beat yourself up over errors in judgment, they can still haunt you till your last breath. In order to avoid that from happening, The Golden Rule has you covered. It’s taught to children, but it’s just as applicable to adults.
