37 Things You'll Regret When You're Old
My son, with whom I was so annoyed last night, has found all these cute funnies, and I think I have to share them... It's my duty to lighten the day, or something.
Anyway, here is another great article he found:
. Not traveling when you had the chance.
Traveling becomes infinitely harder the older you get, especially if you have a family and need to pay the way for three-plus people instead of just yourself.
2. Not learning another language.
Youll kick yourself when you realize you took three years of language in high school and remember none of it.
3. Staying in a bad relationship.
No one who ever gets out of a bad relationship looks back without wishing they made the move sooner.
4. Forgoing sunscreen.
Wrinkles, moles, and skin cancer can largely be avoided if you protect yourself.
5. Missing the chance to see your favorite musicians.
Nah, dude, Ill catch Nirvana next time they come through town. Facepalm.
7. Failing to make physical fitness a priority.
Too many of us spend the physical peak of our lives on the couch. When you hit 40, 50, 60, and beyond, youll dream of what you could have done.
8. Letting yourself be defined by gender roles.
Few things are as sad as an old person saying, Well, it just wasnt done back then.
9. Not quitting a terrible job.
Look, you gotta pay the bills. But if you dont make a plan to improve your situation, you might wake up one day having spent 40 years in hell.
10. Not trying harder in school.
Its not just that your grades play a role in determining where you end up in life. Eventually youll realize how neat it was to get to spend all day learning, and wish youd paid more attention.
11. Not realizing how beautiful you were.
Too many of us spend our youth unhappy with the way we look, but the reality is, thats when were our most beautiful.
12. Being afraid to say I love you.
When youre old, you wont care if your love wasnt returned only that you made it known how you felt.
13. Not listening to your parents advice.
You dont want to hear it when youre young, but the infuriating truth is that most of what your parents say about life is true.
15. Caring too much about what other people think.
In 20 years you wont give a damn about any of those people you once worried so much about.
16. Supporting others dreams over your own.
Supporting others is a beautiful thing, but not when it means you never get to shine.
17. Not moving on fast enough.
Old people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but wasted time.
18. Holding grudges, especially with those you love.
Whats the point of re-living the anger over and over?
19. Not standing up for yourself.
Old people dont take shit from anyone. Neither should you.
20. Not volunteering enough.
OK, so you probably wont regret not volunteering Hunger Games style, but nearing the end of ones life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.
21. Neglecting your teeth.
Brush. Floss. Get regular checkups. It will all seem so maddeningly easy when you have dentures.
22. Missing the chance to ask your grandparents questions before they die.
Most of us realize too late what an awesome resource grandparents are. They can explain everything youll ever wonder about where you came from, but only if you ask them in time.
23. Working too much.
No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.
24. Not learning how to cook one awesome meal.
Knowing one drool-worthy meal will make all those dinner parties and celebrations that much more special.
25. Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment.
Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing.
26. Failing to finish what you start.
I had big dreams of becoming a nurse. I even signed up for the classes, but then
27. Never mastering one awesome party trick.
You will go to hundreds, if not thousands, of parties in your life. Wouldnt it be cool to be the life of them all?
28. Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.
Dont let them tell you, We dont do that.
29. Refusing to let friendships run their course.
People grow apart. Clinging to what was, instead of acknowledging that things have changed, can be a source of ongoing agitation and sadness.
30. Not playing with your kids enough.
When youre old, youll realize your kid went from wanting to play with you to wanting you out of their room in the blink of an eye.
31. Never taking a big risk (especially in love).
Knowing that you took a leap of faith at least once even if you fell flat on your face will be a great comfort when youre old.
32. Not taking the time to develop contacts and network.
Networking may seem like a bunch of crap when youre young, but later on it becomes clear that its how so many jobs are won.
35. Not spending enough time with loved ones.
Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count.
36. Never performing in front of others.
This isnt a regret for everyone, but many elderly people wish they knew just once what it was like to stand in front of a crowd and show off their talents.
37. Not being grateful sooner.
It can be hard to see in the beginning, but eventually it becomes clear that every moment on this earth from the mundane to the amazing is a gift that were all so incredibly lucky to share.
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Well, #1, regret not traveling. I traveled. I traveled all over the eastern US for my job. Who the hell has the money to travel when you're struggling to make a house payment? Besides, I bet I'm the only one here in NewsTalkers who know where Wheatland, Indiana is and has been there! Not only that, but I would often wake up in the same grim Holiday Inn somewhere and wonder where I was that day. Oh, it's Thursday, then I'm in CT. I'll be in NY tomorrow...
I got out of my crappy relationships. Advice: When you marry someone, put a piece of paper in your underwear drawer, listing all the things you love about your husband. When you're ready to give up, get it out and read it. If the list is so outdated as to be laughable, LEAVE, and take the drawer with you. Remember, I married a sociopath and an alcoholic, so I may be a bit biased. My current husband is wonderful, thank God.
I asked my grandparents every thing I could think of, before they died. They would now be in their 120s. I did the best I could, and I spent all kinds of time with them. I came home from college, and didn't go to a dance, in order to fix my Grandma's hair. And I wouldn't trade that time with her for anything. In fact, I would gladly live in a box on the street, for just 10 minutes with them again.
I didn't let culture define me, or I wouldn't have become a geologist. I didn't let gender define me, for sure. I bucked the crowd, and stood up for what I believed in. I've always volunteered, and am looking forward to learning how to play the hurdy gurdy. I have tried to keep up with and remember my German from high school, but my attempts are laughable. Still, I tried.
I wish I hadn't worried myself into a heart attack. I wish that I had taken more time for myself. I wish I had had more time with my family-- they all started dying when I was 5... Most of all, I am grateful for my life, because every bump, bruise, wrinkle, freckle, arthritic hip, etc. was earned.
I sound like Weezer in Steel Magnolias... I'm NICE, dammit. I actually saw my old boss in the Piggly Wiggly and smiled at the son-of-a-bitch before I could help myself.
Nice article Dowser.....I turn 71 next week and I must say I think I'm a lucky little bastard for having such a wonderful life...and being Irish....I remember back in '66 I think was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. I was Honored by being chosen to throw the opening pitch at Yankee Stadium that year. I was scared that I would go down in history as being the first Marine who could not get the ball over home plate. Lucky for me the ball made it all the way.....and life was sweet......
Dear friend, that is so sweet! What an honor!!
3 cheers for all of our vets! May God bless you and them!
''Old people don't take any shit''....I live by that one Dowser.
That's a good one to live by, dear Kavika! Much love to you, my dear friend!