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You might think living with regrets is a terrible thing. You might also believe you would never dwell on those embarrassing or sad memories.
I used to think likewise. I always found it uncomfortable when thinking about the moments that made me say, "I should have done that differently!"
My oft-used approach was to try to forget. "Live in the present," I would say to myself. "Don't look back."
But as time wears on, I start to see regrets from a different perspective. Why are regrets necessarily negative? What if they are a source of wisdom, telling people how to live a better life today?
The American humorist Mark Twain said it best:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
Not all regrets are inherently painful. You can regret not having enough contact with a relative before he or she passed away, which is indeed a sorrowful experience. But you can also regret having tried something, but not to a level of full commitment. Facing these kinds of regrets frankly can prevent you from going through similar misery and dismay in the future.
As we grow older, going forward and growing more mature, it would be a pity to consign old memories to oblivion. They are the precious marks left in our lives. They serve as the lighthouse for reflection when we are old and tired.
So why not embrace regrets?
- Chitchat topic -
What do you regret doing or not doing most in your life?
Feel free to have a chitchat! Share your stories with us and we will publish some of them next Monday.
Editor: Shorlin, Zheng Peihan (intern)
