Many people try to make the phrase “no regrets” their motto, pushing aside thoughts about the past and focusing on the future.
However, not dwelling, but reflecting on past experiences, both positive and negative, can provide valuable lessons and insights that lead to personal growth.
According to a recent survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by UK charity consortium Remember A Charity, four in ten people regret certain aspects of their lives, with spending too much time at work and not traveling being among the most common choices.
So we invite you to think about how we want to spend our time and take a look at a Reddit thread started by platform user Hassan_Wamedh that invited people to share what they wish they would’ve done differently when they were younger.
Read More: 30 Adults Share What They Regret Not Doing While They Were Young
#1
Protect my hearing and my teeth.
Image credits: canthelpmyself9
#2
I would not use tobacco…. ever.
Image credits: Fickle_Pipe1954
#3
I should have left that creepy demeaning religion (Mormonism) 35 years earlier.
Image credits: Nannyphone7
#4
Spending more time with my animals. They were gone sooner than I expected and I regret every single time I complained about walking the dog or skipped a riding lesson because I was too busy moping in my room. Appreciate them while they’re there, or you’ll regret it forever like I do.
Image credits: eqmess
#5
Walking away from toxic people.
Image credits: ButterscotchSuch2771
#6
Learning more languages and skills.
Image credits: NarutoWinchester
#7
Learning financial literacy.
Image credits: scienceforbid
#8
Taking care of my teeth better and saved more money.
Image credits: harambesBackAgain
#9
Turning down invites and opportunities to meet new people and travel to new places because I was too hung up on how I looked. I was so hard on myself. And to her I apologise.
Image credits: Welshraven9
#10
Settling down with the wrong person too early.
Image credits: Personal-Tea7226
#11
Therapy. Should have started at 14 instead of 24, this would have prevented most of the dumb things I did.
Image credits: DeltaPavonis1
#12
Not traveling enough before having kids.
Image credits: JanettFies
#13
Ate healthily or at least with portion control. I developed bad eating habits because I was deprived of food growing up. I’m around 25 lbs heavier than my normal weight. I’ve always tried going on a diet but always fail.
Image credits: strangerthings___11
#14
Trying too hard to keep friends when they used me and took advantage of my kindness, I’ve learnt that not everyone wants to be your friend and I’m okay with that!
Image credits: Electronic-Plan-725
#15
Being diagnosed with ADHD. Looking back it makes so much sense, but I was never tested. I spent years dealing with depression and anxiety over problems caused by it. Hell I dropped out of college twice.
Image credits: RetroCorn
#16
Being a better boyfriend to awesome girls i dated when younger.
Image credits: Own_Comfortable_4955
#17
Choosing myself.
Image credits: Sonnenschein69420
#18
Skipping travel. Missed adventures haunt me. Embrace every opportunity, folks!
Image credits: givemedrop
#19
Starting a gym routine, trying more activities and being more social.
Image credits: Frankthetankjones
#20
Be a teenager. I was too eager to grow up and focused almost exclusively on work from 15-25 so I missed out on the whole thing.
Image credits: DaGoodSauce
#21
Here are a couple – make working out a hobby, take care of your skin, use Moisturizer/sunscreen, take better care of teeth, spend more time with your parents and capture those moments(photos/videos).
Image credits: KajjiKai
#22
Socializing and giving my own interests a chance.
Image credits: boipoispoik