10 Things People Usually Regret When They’re Old

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While some people look back at their lives with satisfaction. Some look back with regrets. 

Regrets of what they failed to do and what they did wrong. 

There are some common things people usually regret. 

Ten of them are:

1. Not learning some skills that could have bettered their lives

Your success in life is directly proportional to the value you create and add to people.

 And one of the ways to create and add value to others is by learning and honing vital skills that are beneficial to people.

 People regret not taking steps to better their lives by improving their value through learning skills.

 

2. Not learning financial management

People usually regret not making wiser financial choices when they were younger such as saving, investing, and planning for retirement.

 Older people who are working because they have to and not because they want to, regret this much.

 

3. Not taking risks

Nothing great comes from sitting in one’s comfort zone.

 People regret not taking risks that could have enriched their lives.

 “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”- Wayne Gretzky

 

4. Not writing a book

A lot of people regret not putting their thoughts on paper.

 They could have written a bestseller or not.

 But at least, they’d be spared of the regret of not writing their book(s).

A book is a legacy. When you’re gone, your book remains. 

 

5. Not taking like more seriously

 People regret ever living recklessly and frivolously.

 You can’t live a careless life and expect to have a great life.

 

6. Taking life too seriously and not having fun

 While you should take your life seriously, you should also leave space for some fun.

 You will not be young forever. Create happy memories that will live with you forever.

 

7. Not forgiving someone until they died

I can relate to this so well. 

I lost a dear friend last year. She was so dear to me and I’m yet to get over the news of her death.

I don’t think I ever will.

But one thing I’m grateful for is that I have no regrets concerning my relationship with her.

This is because, some months before her death, we had a minor quarrel and I wasn’t happy with her.

I thought she’d realise how strained our relationship had become and ask about it but she didn’t.

This was someone who couldn’t go a day without talking with me. We were that intimate.

Because she was dear to me and I valued our friendship, I reached out to her and told her what she did wrong that annoyed me.

She gave a response that revealed the value she placed on our relationship.

I gave her a piece of my mind and let her be. But I never stopped loving her or caring about her even though our friendship was ruined.

Now that she’s dead, I think about her virtually every day. I hear her voice in my head, I relive her loud laughter, I remember her encouraging words. She helped my content writing career to where it is today.

I can’t but imagine how much guilt and regret I’d be dealing with now if I didn’t make efforts to salvage our relationship.

Life is long and short at the same time. No one is getting out of here alive. Deal with people in such a way that you won’t regret not forgiving them when they’re gone.

 

8. Giving up on something too soon

People usually wish they’d put in more effort before giving up on something e.g school, career, relationship, or someone. 

Before you give up on something or someone, make sure you’ve tried your best and you won’t regret ever quitting when you did. 

9. Ruining a potentially great friendship/relationship 

People usually regret ruining what could have been a great relationship or friendship either by taking people for granted or being egotistical. 

If you don’t want to live in regret, don’t take people for granted and don’t let ego get in the way of your relationship. 

 

10. Not seeking counsel before making a major decision 

In the multitude of counsel, there is wisdom. 

I’ve heard some women say to me, “I wish I’d known you before I got married. I wouldn’t have made some mistakes I made.”

This usually makes me sad and at the same time motivates me to keep writing, knowing that my article or book(s) could be an answer to someone’s question. 

I hope you’ll learn from this article and not live to regret anything (major). And if there’s anything you regret doing or not doing in the past, let it go. Forgive yourself. 

Holding on to past mistakes will not change anything but hurt you and interfere with your present happiness. 

Learn and move on. 

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