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I'm in a thinking mood today and just thought about things I regret for never doing or not doing earlier. I'm pretty sure everyone has at least a few of those and as I get older (30 soon) I'm starting to wonder if I might have wasted a lot of opportunities to achieve my dreams (or at least most of them).
I also wonder if there is anything I can do about it. I'm usually not the guy to take risks and simply just walk along the middle path in life... neither going the easy way nor the hard risky way. Usually I make things hard on myself, but I try not to make it hard for other people.
A few things that come to mind, that I think differently of now:
- Being a slacker at school
I just did enough effort to get the grades I needed to advance. What bothers me the most in retrospect is that I could've done so much better if I just put more will into it. I'm not stupid but very lazy and I noticed very early that I could get by with less effort.
- Not changing earlier
As a kid I was the perfect example of a loser and a perfect target for bullying. After I failed a class and had to repeat a year my life dramatically changed for the better since I was more accepted by my classmates and also I started to care about myself more.
- Never learning an instrument when I was younger and had more time
Sometimes you hear stories of people whose parents force them to learn an instrument and they're pretty annoyed by it... and now I kinda wish my parents would've done that. I can decently play the guitar and drums now because I picked it up a few years ago. But I'm missing the time/motivation to really practice for hours after work now. So I'll probably stay decent, but never will be good.
- Not playing SC:BW when I had the time and chance
This is actually a little more trivial but still bothers me. Back when SC came out I bought it first day and played the campaign and a few multiplayer matches against CPU here and there. Then I started to play SC2 when it came out and I wasn't a big multiplayer fan before that. I like to play coop games and achieving something with people working together instead of playing 1:1. But now that shifted a bit and since I had no prior experience I had to claw my way up from Bronze to Diamond while my buddies easily played at Platinum/Diamond level from the beginning.
I just wish I would've started earlier and put more effort into it and maybe I could've made a name for myself. But now I'm just thinking I'm getting to old to be good anymore. So again... decent but never will be good.
In general I start to pick up a lot of things and start to get decent at them. Then my focus shifts to something else. So I have a very broad range of interests and things that I can do decently, but I don't really know one thing I'm good at. Nothing to impress other people.
This is particularly one thing that bothers me the most in my life currently. I'm just your average Joe who just excels at being average in everything he does.
There are still many more things that I more or less regret and most of the stuff seems trivial to many I suppose. Also taking time to reflect surely is a good thing, but no use in griping over it.
Better take what you have now and work with that and aim for new dreams 
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread?
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On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread?
You got me
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On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread?
my thought exactly.
Regret: Didnt sign in on TL when I first visited the site. Maybe I'll blog about it some day.
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I wish I had devoted 20 or 30 percent of the time I've spent playing bw/sc2 teaching myself additional math subjects. That 20 or 30 percent probably adds up to thousands of hours which would be invaluable to me now 
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Katowice25012 Posts
On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread?
I regret Plexa for not fixing said typo so I have shouldered his burden and done so.
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On May 31 2011 22:14 heyoka wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread? I regret Plexa for not fixing said typo so I have shouldered his burden and done so.
Thanks for actually making it worse :>
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On May 31 2011 22:14 heyoka wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread? I regret Plexa for not fixing said typo so I have shouldered his burden and done so.
I hope you're not starting a mod troll with the title as we had it with the penis size thread.
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Instead of regret, ask yourself "was I happy at the time?". My guess would be yes.
I see no point in regretting for more than a minute. You wish to excel in certain fields, but there 7 billion people, not everyone will be amazing and those who are often times do not have experience in anything else. A Doctor in Chemistry probably plays Guitar+Drums worse than you, but is better at focusing his mind on something that requires a lot of study.
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Title spelling is awesome! Things you rerget
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I think my 3 big ones are...
- Be more courageous when it comes to women. I found out about a few missed opportunities after the fact just because I always tended to play it safe, rather than putting myself out there.
- Be more outgoing in high school. I was the kind of kid that was kind of accepted in all the groups but not really a part of any. It made it so that the school day was fun but I rarely got invites to social stuff after hours.
- 5 year relationship (and getting dumped) to realize that I can do way better than my ex and that I'm better off now, even though I'm currently single. Five years is such a long time for such a simple epiphany.
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
On May 31 2011 22:14 heyoka wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread? I regret Plexa for not fixing said typo so I have shouldered his burden and done so.
Nah I left it because both me and my gf found it hilarious
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-Letting myself get bullied during elementary school
-Spending nearly 150 days worth of time on Runescape
-Quitting Soccer
-Getting banned on my first acc here
-Finding /b/ / Funnyjunk / Chatroulette
-Doubting my abilities
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Katowice25012 Posts
On May 31 2011 22:17 Kleinmuuhg wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2011 22:14 heyoka wrote:On May 31 2011 21:49 Plexa wrote:
Not spelling regret right in the title of this thread? I regret Plexa for not fixing said typo so I have shouldered his burden and done so. I hope you're not starting a mod troll with the title as we had it with the penis size thread.
I was going to but after realizing that no one else is up at this time decided to just fix it. Also Panda sent me a nice pm.
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I REGRET NOTHIIIIING! *puts out a cigarrette on palm*
Seriously though regrets are a waste of emotion. It doesn't do to dwell, you made the decisions you did and now you are here. Deal with that. Not with what could have been. If at any point you are discontented, it's all in your power to change it if you've got the balls.
Although if I did have any regrets it would be; knowing what grades I needed to get into the top animation university in the UK and still not doing it. There was a point where I was homeless, jobless, alone and cold and I thought 'Fuuuuuck. If I'd just done that fucking work I'd be in uni accomadation right now doing a degree'. But fuck it. I'm fine now, and I don't even want to do animation. I was only going to go to uni because I had nothing else to do.
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Not doing all my assignments weeks ago when I first got them. Now I've got tonnes to do and I'm still on TL ffs. >.>
I'm such a bad worker. =(
On May 31 2011 22:50 The KY wrote:
Seriously though regrets are a waste of emotion. It doesn't do to dwell, you made the decisions you did and now you are here. Deal with that. Not with what could have been. If at any point you are discontented, it's all in your power to change it if you've got the balls.
I like that. That's a good way to put it. Motivates me to actually start working and stop being such a lazy son of a bitch.
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Yeah I agree with nimbim and KY
It's not worth it to actually gripe over it forever and let it drag you down so much. Still I like to reflect sometimes and assert where I am and what I have achieved so far. That's why I said in the end: gotta work with what you have and make the best of it
Some things, like missed opportunities can still be achieved... though it might be harder than when you initially had the chance. Especially if you have established some sort of lifestyle, have a job, a home and so on. It's a tough decision to give up your "safe" life to go for your dreams and I admire people that can do it.
Not all dreams require so much dedication though.
I still want to learn some harder songs on guitar for example, but I don't wanna become a rock star (anymore )
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i regret wearing a suit today :C
trackpants till i die
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i regret having bought my first guitar. way too expensive and not suited to me at all. money thrown out of the window .__.
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Everything.
After all I'm a mortal, my time is limited, how can I justify doing something over something else?
I can't, life is hell.
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I regret only starting to play basketball in grade 12, despite still making the AAA team and being a starter by the end of the year (imagine what could've been if I had started in like grade 5 or so.... )
I also regret never playing brood war, I could totally be pro sc player by now -.-
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Letting people's opinions of me effect me to a point where it changed me and my life. But also looking forward when I get to the point that I'm stronger for it. 
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I'll tell you what i would regret - making a post here about some minor thing that got in the way of how great i should have been much sooner.
Guess i regret the time i've spent regretting stuff, what a futile and nonconstructive exercise.
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On June 01 2011 01:15 Harrad wrote:
being born
You're so emo harrad ;D
I regret not making my magician in Everquest a gnome back in 2001 :[ He was a high elf with a gnome name and everyone always asked why I wasn't a gnome. QQ
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The only regrets I have in my life are:
Not being able to face my fears and obstacles, which come my way.
Not being confident enough in myself in things I do, hindering myself in everything.
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PandaCore,
never give up your playing instrument. You can improve and be good. If you play with someone else, of similar skill or better and if you love music, you will surely improve and enjoy it more.
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Not starting weightlifting earlier =(
I was always the typical skinny nerd, even all the way through uni. At the time, never thought lifting weights is something I'd do. Started to lift about 6 months ago.. wish I'd started 6 years ago. Still, I'm only 22, not the end of the world.
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The only 2 regrets I have are:
Not starting tennis until I was in 8th grade (by 12th I had a starting spot on the highschool team, we won state's that year)
Being solely a console gamer until 2 years ago/not playing BW until after SC2 came out
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I regret concerning myself too much with the things I could've spent my time on regardless of whether I enjoyed the time I spent.
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I regret not going to prom with the girl I liked even though I told myself I would absolutely not regret it lol
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On May 31 2011 21:24 PandaCore wrote:
There are still many more things that I more or less regret and most of the stuff seems trivial to many I suppose. Also taking time to reflect surely is a good thing, but no use in griping over it.
what are those other trivial things? i'm interested to know, if i may ask
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On June 01 2011 02:35 n.DieJokes wrote:
I regret not going to prom with the girl I liked even though I told myself I would absolutely not regret it lol
I regret all the dumb stuff that I said to girls without realizing it was dumb until after I said it. I have such a way with the ladies ><
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Being a slacker, essentially what you said. My high school years were unproductive.
My high school years created a lot of bad habits and whatnot.
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Saw this on reddit just yesterday, but couldn't find it again. I Googled it and it seems to have been copy/pasted on a million blogs, so I don't know where it came from, but here it is anyway.
Top 5 Regrets People Have on Their Deathbeds
I have a million regrets, but frankly I just wish I was a better person. I've tried to be for years and years but sometimes I think my idea of "better" is flawed and it tends to ruin friendships/relationships over and over again.
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1. Almost got into a car accident. I couldn't merge onto the highway, lacked experience, so I stopped, and the person behind me did, but the person behind her didn't and their cars collided. No one got hurt but...
2. I should've walked her inside and kissed her
3. Trip to Montreal. A waste of money, but I did learn a few things and met a kewt gurl :3
4. Coming to this University. I don't know how things will turn out as a result of coming here so this is as of yet, a lesser regret... still it's pretty brutal here... University doesn't leave time for anything else during the school year
I don't normally regret what I do in life. I try to think of everything I do as a bit of an experiment, where I learn from my mistakes and I learn who I want to be. Those top two things do bother me every now and then though. Sometimes I do regret coming to this University too, the double all nighters get to you.
I think going to Montreal is one of my lesser regrets now
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1. I regret not making myself say what I needed to say when I needed to say it.
2. I regret closing myself off from the world again and again.
Definitely things I need to work on.
Hug, anyone?
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I regret not being into rap earlier.
And yeah, I could regret more serious issues but I'm not going to post that on the Internet, lol.
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Mostly I regret not jumping on the teamliquid fitness initiative five years ago (not even sure if it was around then, but still...) If I knew then what I know now I think the last few years would've been a happier time for me.
Oh, and pretty much any time in my life where I tried to be religious to "fit in". As a matter of intellectual integrity I shall never do so again.
Oh, and pizza girl. One time I was going up to my room and some girl said yum pizza I sure wish I had some. Missed opportunity, there was a 99% chance she would've come to my room if I offered.
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too many things to list
definitely slacking off in school, like you mentioned
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Picking my nose this morning. I wanted to breathe easier, but I ended up making my nose bleed and breathing was more difficult.
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Korea (South)11601 Posts
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On June 01 2011 12:13 Chairman Ray wrote:
Picking my nose this morning. I wanted to breathe easier, but I ended up making my nose bleed and breathing was more difficult.
o.O
I regret spending so much time on this website. I feel my life being sucked away as I type this.
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I don't waste energy with regrets. Valuable life experience. I've done dumb shit with long term consequences, or bad consequences, but looking back at it just traps you. Better to dedicate yourself to making the present and future better.
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Korea (South)11601 Posts
On June 01 2011 13:16 JingleHell wrote:
I don't waste energy with regrets. Valuable life experience. I've done dumb shit with long term consequences, or bad consequences, but looking back at it just traps you. Better to dedicate yourself to making the present and future better.
i like this. It doesn't matter what choice you make, just stick to what you do and dont ponder on the opportunity cost of choices you made in the past.
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On May 31 2011 22:22 psychopat wrote:
- Be more courageous when it comes to women. I found out about a few missed opportunities after the fact just because I always tended to play it safe, rather than putting myself out there.
What I can tell you about women is that doing FE and playing for macro doesnt work....you gotta all-in that shit every game bro.
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On June 01 2011 14:36 CaucasianAsian wrote:Show nested quote +On June 01 2011 13:16 JingleHell wrote:
I don't waste energy with regrets. Valuable life experience. I've done dumb shit with long term consequences, or bad consequences, but looking back at it just traps you. Better to dedicate yourself to making the present and future better. i like this. It doesn't matter what choice you make, just stick to what you do and dont ponder on the opportunity cost of choices you made in the past.
It's vital, imo. Besides, sometimes we can't see the good that comes from the chains of events.
Weird example: Despite hating large portions of the time I spent in the Army, had I not joined, when my Crohn's disease showed up, I wouldn't have gotten medical retirement, which provides me with good health insurance. I also never would have met my amazing wife, or quite a few awesome friends.
If I hadn't gotten engaged the first time well before I was ready for that type of relationship, a long set of event dependencies also would have prevented me meeting my wife. Given that she's really perfect for me, I'm glad this isn't the case.
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On June 01 2011 14:54 Maru- wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2011 22:22 psychopat wrote:
- Be more courageous when it comes to women. I found out about a few missed opportunities after the fact just because I always tended to play it safe, rather than putting myself out there.
What I can tell you about women is that doing FE and playing for macro doesnt work....you gotta all-in that shit every game bro.
Yeah... I've come to learn that I (and guys in general) have way more success when I forego charming them bit by bit and instead go with the BitByBit approach... It's so counterintuitive and it just feels so wrong! Life lessons, I guess...
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EPT
