When contemplating whether to do something or not, a plucky voice in our heads may say, "You never know until you try." This is time-honoured wisdom that encourages us to be game rather than to hold back. It reminds us that it is only through experience that we learn about this world and ourselves. Even if we regret the outcome, we have learned something, and the newfound knowledge is almost always worth it. We have all had experiences where we tried something, we didn't think we'd like and fell in love.
As an exercise to test your own willingness to discover through doing, try making a list of things you regret not having done. Just being aware of the opportunities you missed might encourage you not to miss them again. There's only one way to find out.
My Thoughts:
A lot of people have bucket lists full of things they want to do before they die, well mine is pretty tame as I have been lucky enough to have done most of the things I have wanted to already. The only thing on it now is to go whale watching, close-up and personal. I have seen them from the study window, but not close enough to get some good photos.
As to the things I regret not doing, well again there are very few.
- I always wanted to ice-skate on an outside rink in Russia when it was a closed state behind the iron curtain. Now travel is freely aloud the urge has gone as there would be no risk or sense of adventure to doing it.
- Not working abroad in the 80’s with disadvantaged people, or those with learning difficulties. Timing was just not right, which sounds like an excuse, but I had a young family to consider. I suppose if I’d had a burning desire to do it, I would have found a way so maybe this was not something anymore than a nice idea. I will never know now, but it could also be that my sixth sense kicked in and stopped me for making a huge mistake.
That’s it really. Just two things that I wanted to do and didn’t. There are things that could not have happen that I regret, but these were things I had no control over as death stepped in the way far too soon, which saddens me more than I can express. Mostly I am very fortunate to not have any major regrets in my life so far.