Living Life with no regrets

This is so easily said but so very hard to do.

I had a conversation with a friend this morning that has had one hell of a year health wise and at 63 he thinks if he had lived a healthier life his quality would be better now. Without going into details (because if I did he would kill me as he is a very private person) his has spent the year in and out of hospital with various procedures including a long and difficult cancer operation which he has come through very very well all things considered. 

In exactly one month’s time we will be heading to Thailand along with his partner (my friend of 35years) and his sister; one of his mates will follow later and the boys will stay on after we leave.

Can't wait!

The discussion headed to our excitement at leaving the cold weather behind us and heading to the beach a stone’s throw away from our Hotel, he hesitated before making the statement that he won’t be swimming as his newly acquired scares look like a shark attack. I tried to assure him that the only people that he will know on the beach will be us and the rest really don’t matter, maybe he could make up a story about a shark if anyone was that insensitive to ask. The conversation then went on to skin cancers and as kids we all spent long unprotected hours on the beach which we are paying for now not to mention parting too hard, drinking too much and smoking. Growing up driving cars too fast, long distances without sleep, we wondered how we got this far.

Mate used to drive from Ipswich to Sydney in 9 hours (no free-way then)

Most of us know only too well how miserable life can be following bad decision making; embarrassment resulting from the indiscreet airing of other's secrets, humiliation brought on by a failed marriage or business venture — whatever the story, we've all experienced pain thanks to our own stupidity. 

Regret is the take away — it serves to remind us to behave better. We carry regret because we remember the things we lost and how we suffered because of it. If we're really nice, we carry regret because of the suffering we inflicted on others. But carrying regret too intensely or for too long profoundly affects our state of being.

How can you live a life free of regret? 

1. Live honourably, act with integrity

After an episode of poor decision making, do all you can to make right any situation in which you behaved badly. Don't fool yourself about the reality of your circumstance and don't avoid people because you have wronged them. Accept responsibility and make apologies where necessary. 

2. Be adventurous, take calculated risk

All you really have is today and once gone, you can never get it back. Be adventurous in all you do. Try new things and take calculated risks. Never let an opportunity of interest pass you by, live each moment to the fullest.

3. Be the person you want to be, every day

Work hard to become the person you would like to spend the rest of your life with. There are no limits to the kind of person you can be. 

4. Learn from your experiences

Don't crumble in times of crisis. Instead, stand tall and observe your situation. Examine your failings and learn from your mistakes. Don't hide from your experiences, grow by them.

5. Follow your own path

Get to know yourself. Don't follow the herd and subscribe to mainstream needs and wants. If you do this and you may be in danger of never truly realising your own potential for happiness. Find out who you are then make decisions that best suit you. Be true to yourself and you will have no regrets. 

Our conversation ended up going full circle. We are who we are because of what we have done and experienced. No one is proud of everything they have done and hopefully we learn along the way. Life would be such a waste if we didn’t do anything, go anywhere, say or experience different things.

What is done is done, enjoy each day as we never know what is around the corner. Regret just clouds the sunshine of today.