When you look back on life, regrets tend to sneak in. Some big, some small, and some that make you wish you could go back and do things differently.
For Bobby, the biggest regret is simple: he wishes he partied more. He jokes that he has no “wild stories” from back in the day because he really didn’t do much. By his count, he only went to two parties in his younger years. Looking back, he feels like he missed out on that part of life.
But Bobby isn’t alone in reflecting on regrets. In fact, some of the most common regrets people carry are pretty relatable:
- Caring too much about what other people think
- Not saving enough money earlier in life
- Not exercising or taking better care of health
- Staying in a relationship too long
- Not telling someone how you really felt
- Not traveling more
- Spending on things you didn’t need
- Trusting the wrong person
- Letting friendships fade instead of fighting for them
- Not pursuing a career path you truly wanted
When the conversation turned to friendships, Bobby explained that he has what he calls “sleeper cells of friends.” These are people he doesn’t talk to for years, but if he ever needs them, they’re just a phone call away. Amy shared that she tries not to dwell on regrets, but she does wish she had taken school more seriously. She admits she didn’t really have the tools to succeed at the time and wishes her parents had stepped in to guide her more. She also regrets not talking to her parents more while she had the chance. Another big regret for Bobby? Not learning music. He had a few opportunities to really dive in but never prioritized it, and now it’s something he looks back on with “what if” in his mind.
At the end of the day, regrets are part of being human. But maybe the lesson is this: don’t wait too long to do the things you really want to do. Party a little, pick up the guitar, call that friend, or take that trip. Because one day, those might be the stories you’ll wish you had.