I wonder how many of us regret things that we’d said or done at some time in our lives. It doesn’t have to do with age and it can happen at any time in our life’s journey.
Something we’ve said or done offends somebody, or you wish for some stage in your life to have again. Most times, that’s it; the moment is gone. Time marches on.
A friend sent me an email recently with pictures and objects from yesteryear depicting goods sold, games played and advertising from 70 years ago. I’d forgotten how things had changed. Sad that these things will probably be forgotten in time, regretfully.
There were pictures of ‘do it yourself’ printing sets and ‘Wagon Wheels’ (chocolate) advertised for 3d each.
When multiplication was called ‘time tables’, Lux and Rinso washing powders, satchels and small ports or bags that would carry just a few things to school. Remember the white lolly cigarettes with the red tip?
Or the chute that would send your cash upstairs at the store, or hopscotch drawn on the pavement. And the list goes on…
As we get older, regrets come in other ways: photos that may have been taken with the family — some may now be missing. Or a photo we should have taken, but didn’t. Or maybe even remembering photos taken of your children when babies, now in their 50s and 60s. BUT! They’re still your kids!
Regret is more than a feeling; it is a tangible reaction to events that have happened or past choices you have made. Regret is a very common negative emotion.
Jelena Kecmanovic, a clinical psychologist in Washington, says, “While some regrets are small and fleeting, others can be haunted by a consuming self-reproach and have to seek treatment for a sense of loss and sadness over what their lives could have been.”
Some things you never have control over, so why worry about these? Be honest with people when you can – if not a moral issue then put in place a regret-prevention strategy for later in life.
Choosing a mate in today’s world is full of mistakes that one can make if not aware how important a decision it is. Many people are not careful enough and expect one person to be all things at all times, even if we aren’t. Many will change as they get older, the feelings change, the attitudes, the differences will come to light. Yet others, married for a long time, see respect and regard for their partner as they get older and as physical differences begin to show.
In older people, sickness can be a real downer to their lives, not being able to do things they were used to doing, with sickness holding them back. If both are ill, it will certainly change their lives. Those who are seriously ill or afflicted don’t want to do the things they used to do, sometimes it may be just too hard.
During the couple of years of COVID, when our lives were restricted by law to go out, we were resigned to that fact and now that the harder times are past, still feel that lack of going out and socialising. Many people have been heard to mention how those couple of years changed their lives and made them re-evaluate themselves.
The upshot is that we should limit our regrets, time is ticking on, make amends,
