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What’s up everyone! Hope we’re all having an AWESOME weekend.
What’d you guys get up to?
Man, tell you what, I am so glad this heatwave in Sydney has passed.
It got so hot sometimes that I actually couldn’t function as a human being… I think that’s when you know you need a time-out. When self-immolation turns from an interesting Wikipedia article into reality.
I was reading in the news that mid-week, the 15… yes FIFTEEN hottest places on the planet were in Australia…
Love it.
And so I came to find myself on Friday afternoon in the local Westfields (shopping centre) having a spot of lunch when a most intriguing conversation pricked my ears.
It was between a group of teenagers who were discussing the topic of “regret”.
(Seriously, kids these days – you’re 16 and you already have regret?)
Anyhow, I think one of them recently broke up with their ex, as she was bawling her eyes out and said she recently broke up with her ex.
Like any self-righteous citizen of society, of course I had to eavesdrop…
“Boohoo, I cant believe we broke up, I miss him so much”.
“Don’t worry, he was a dick anyway didn’t you break up with him?”
“Yeah, but… hic… still… miss him SO much”.
“Girl, you’ll find someone again, Bobby always liked you”.
“NO, Bobby is ugly (just wow), I…I…boohoohoo”.
At this point, I picked up my half-eaten grilled chicken burger, walked over, reached into my pocket, whipped out my… phone, and showed them THIS.
OK, I didn’t do any of that, BUT I would have shown them this graphic IF they didn’t rush off to Pandora to get “some new friendship bracelets”.
“THIS” is an infographic from Happify regarding what “regrets” we all have and how to try and live our lives without regrets.
Cool graphic right – thanks Happify!
Interesting to note that the top 5 regrets were Romance, Family, Education, Career and Finance… not surprising actually.
Although I like the 5 steps they use to try and minimize regret:
- Live a life that feels meaningful to YOU. Yep, on it already (see, earlier post on “doing you“.
- Have the courage to express your feelings. Rest ASSURED, absolutely no qualms about this point. Express my feelings ALL the time e.g. F***k this s***t and I f***king love you. Say it with MEANING people.
- Simply allow yourself to be happier. Actually this one I need to work on…
- Prioritize family time over long hours at the office. Define “long”.
- Stay in touch with old friends. Difficult, but trying.
And the point about regretting on the things which we miss out on – that’s an interesting point!
As I age, I often regret about those things:
- Not becoming a global football phenomenon.
- Missing out on my chance being a male model.
- Didn’t marry a tycoon’s stunningly beautiful but incredibly loyal and loving daughter (hehe, joking MrsFrugalSamurai, joking).
- Why I haven’t turned TheFrugalSamurai.com into a blogging POWERHOUSE (yet).
Oh well, as Sinatra said… “regrets, I’ve had a few!”
What do you regret about?
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41 Comments
crisshex88
I loved your blog post because if I think of my regrets I think I have some. In the past I had too little courage and if I could go back I would have said things, I would have done things and maybe I would have done something more.
The Frugal Samurai
Good for you, at least you are older, wiser and stronger now right! What things are you referring to by the way?
steveark
I really don’t have any major regrets and given do-overs there isn’t anything significant I would change. I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate about how my life has gone and how I’ve responded to the few tough situations I have faced. Best of all, no tattoos and no embarrassing social media! Very interesting post, I wonder if happy people have more or less regrets than average or just don’t dwell on them?
The Frugal Samurai
That’s damn lucky of you, a very charmed life indeed! And glad to hear you triumphed during the tough times. Hmm, perhaps it’s a bit of both? Just plow forward in ignorance bliss I imagine! But I think the most important thing is choice, that is we can choose to be happy… or not!
carlanatali
I don´t regret anything, really. Not because I believe it all helped making me the person I am today and blah, blah, blah but simply because it is POINTLESS.
I can´t change the past, what I did is done and even if believe I should have done some differently at any given time I take what I really can from the situation, wisdom and move foward.
I think about that long enough to learn the lesson and only remember it again when a similar situation comes along.
I believe regret is one of the most useless fellings available on the market so I never go for it 😉
The Frugal Samurai
SO TRUE, honestly that’s how I feel about regrets as well, exactly like you say, don’t dwell on them but rather learn from them – and sounds like you have! Thanks for reading 🙂
Kristen Frolich
Everyone has had regrets in their life. For me, it’s what you learn from it that makes all the difference.
The Frugal Samurai
Exactimo! No point dwelling but go on learning right?! Thanks for reading.
Hugzy
I… Im “Bobby”…
The Frugal Samurai
Ohbadear…
Fran Jorgensen
Thank you for sharing your experience and this cool graphic! All my life I have thought about regrets, and so I have taken bold decisions after thinking that I might regret it one day, so I am happy to say that so far so good, I don’t have any big regrets … Thanks for sharing!
The Frugal Samurai
That’s fantastic to hear! Very happy to hear that things have worked out well for you, thanks for reading!
Neha
Such an awesome infographic! I enjoyed it thoroughly. I regret about not starting my blog before 2 years! 🙁
The Frugal Samurai
No problem at all, awww but it’s well and truly started now! Make up for that lost time!
Merryl
Wow that infographic is very informative! What a great post, I’m gonna need to save that as a reminder. The 5 steps are spot on, I may have to repost this 😉
The Frugal Samurai
No worries, please do! Thanks for reading and for your kind words – hopefully we all learn from those 5 steps right!
Merryl
What a great post! I’m gonna save this infographic, it’s so informative and spot on. I may have to repost it 😉😊
The Frugal Samurai
Thanks for reading!!!
lattelindsay
I don’t have many regrets but then again, I’m pig-headed and don’t do things to please others. Plus, I plan on being the old lady who tells “fun” stories to my grandkids over Christmas dinner after a few sherries that make everyone blush.
The Frugal Samurai
Hahahahaha love it! Just dun give a flying…yknowhat right! Kudos to your style, would love to be the fly on the wall then!
Yonca
Great post! Regret keeps us stuck in the past. Pause for a moment to think of what we need to do right now. It supports us to move forward.
The Frugal Samurai
I know right, sometimes it’s good to reflect and think back on the lessons we learnt, it truly does help us to move forward! Thanks for reading.
Supermompicks
I have lived my life without regrets because I accept the consequences for all of my decisions. There really is no better way to live happily!
The Frugal Samurai
AMAZING philosophy! Love that way of living, and the accountability aspect you have – wish I could learn more from you!
playinspiredmum
Another great post! I’m pretty lucky in that I don’t have to many major regrets… I would def do things differently with my ‘grown up’ knowledge but wouldn’t we all?
The Frugal Samurai
Thank you! What kinda things are we talkin about here?!
Ayana Nell
I totally agree that I feel like I’d regret missing out on something before I regretted something I actually did. I’m almost 30 and I had a wild phase and made some mistakes, learned some lessons, and had FUN but I don’t regret any of it. I think I would regret more if I hadn’t traveled, made friends, drank too much, and stayed up too late…you know?
The Frugal Samurai
Whoa, sounds like an intense and FUN life you’ve led, don’t think you would have any regrets in your old age about your youth that’s for sure – very jelly! Thanks for reading 🙂
norbis6
This post is interesting, it made me smile while reading. It is indeed true that the first one in the list to be regretted is romance lol
The Frugal Samurai
Oh? Sounds like there’s a story developing here… tell tell!
georginawangui
Awesome infographic..I view my mistakes, not as regrets but learning points…
The Frugal Samurai
That’s the spirit – thanks for reading!
Echo aka The Mad Mommy
I am trying to live life without regrets. In fact, most of my regrets are from my younger days, LOL.
The Frugal Samurai
Haha, do you really regret them though now that you are older! Surely you had a bucket load of fun along the way right!
Katriza Luna
Love this infographic! Trying to live your life without regrets is always ideal but sometimes its hard to achieve! Love the idea of trying to do that though!
The Frugal Samurai
I know right! Only natural for everyone to have a regret or two along the way – that’s what makes our lives interesting actually… regrets and failures and mistakes methinks – makes those wins that much sweeter!
Fly Away Godddess
This touched me on so many levels. I literally live my life in regrets, I have had every bad thing that could happen to a person and for some reason I can let go. Living how to separate from such a big part of me is so difficult for me to muster. Day by day.
The Frugal Samurai
Ah damn… that is really unfortunate and I truly feel for you, do you think that there is light at the end of the tunnel?
Fly Away Godddess
I’m still going through it- I’ll update when I can.
Hugzy
A man worked a solid 8.5 hours, comes home to do some lite humourous reading of my favourite Japanese blog… to FIND NONE
REALLY regret not cherishing this blog more when I had the chance.
The Frugal Samurai
It’s…it’s OK sir, there will be other blogs – Mike’s Musings, Bazer’s Tips, Jeffles Jesters etc. etc.