Regret is one of the worst feelings in the world because unlike many other things in life, it is irreversible. It is wishing you had or hadn’t done something differently. The worst part is, you only have yourself to blame! Older and wiser folks at Quora share advice on what to start doing today in order to avoid sorrows in the future.
1. If in doubt, ask the guy/girl out.
“This amount depends on you. It doesn’t have to be enough to live forever. Just enough to say FU to a bad situation if you need to.”
5. Don’t rush into marriage or babies.
“I didn’t know that a big part of marriage is role playing. I should have first found out who I was and what I was capable of achieving as an individual; I became someones wife long before I found out what I wanted to do personally.”
“Marry someone who is able to partner with you in a committed, responsible relationship to achieve shared goals. Don’t marry the first person who makes your body tingle. The tingle isn’t love. Love is what you and your partner will achieve after ten years of struggle. There will still be enough tingling.”
6. Don’t hang out with people who suck.
“I chose to persist too long through harmful relationships, because I felt like I needed a ‘reason’ to end them. I took me far too long to realize that my feelings were the only compass I needed.”
7. Don’t party too hard.
“Eating right and exercising gives you energy. Energy is a competitive advantage. Starting from that premise and the premise that time is limited for everyone, you are able to accomplish more and be more productive with more energy. Exercise creates energy in the long run, not depletes it. This is not to say that you are trying to maximize ‘achievement’. Energy goes hand in hand with other crucial things, like happiness.”
10. Keep your livings expenses low.
“The big house and the nice car are traps. They make it more difficult to change your situation. You have way more negotiating power when you can live on $1000/mo than if you need $5,000/mo.”