Why is it that THIS particular life motto is so popular? Really, what kind of decent individual can actually live his or her life with "no regrets"? If you've ever intentionally hurt or offended someone, or committed any other kind of repulsive act, do you really want to say that you DON'T wish you hadn't done it? What kind of a spoiled-rotten-brat generation have we raised on this planet when the mores of this nation include "no regrets" as a valid way to live?
I think you are taking it too literally.
Well, yo umight be looking at it from a retroactive perspective, as opposed to a proactive perspective.
If you are planning to live with no regrets, you would essentially live your life to the best of your abilities... so that when you looked back, you would have no regrets.
The motto isn't "just ignore your regrets and pretend they don't matter." It is an honest attempt to be the best you can be.
It's not popular, it's just popular for people to say that they live this way. It's sort of like the bible, it's not meant to be taken literal. To me living life without regret means that to not live in the past, live each day for the day.
Everyone has regrets, but if you believe that your past has shaped you into the person you are today, then it makes things difficult to regret them. Many of my bad decisions that have happened to me were major learning experiences and because of this, I certainly don't regret them.
life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in, broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, WOW, What a ride!
I think you are going to regret starting this thread when you realize this term is a positive mantra on how to go forward with life.
I've thought of it the same way you have. It is baffling to me that so many people spew this nonsense. I have noticed that most people who say this are some combination of thoughtless and/or selfish.
Widener wrote: Many of my bad decisions that have happened to me were major learning experiences and because of this, I certainly don't regret them.
Right, but of course other people are also affected by bad decisions, and you don't get to tie those up so neatly in a bow for them.
My sense is that people who use this expression evaluate life in terms of its effect on them and are not accustomed to inquiring into the effects of their actions on other folk.
I completely agree with your deepthinking point of view. I fully intend to live my life chock full of regrets. Rarely do I attempt an action that will leave me without regret. I like to just beat on people (mentally and physically) for no reason whatsoever. I hate people that attempt to live a life of no regret. They are just weak little pussies. I, on the other hand, am a regret filled badass!!!
Widener wrote:
Everyone has regrets, but if you believe that your past has shaped you into the person you are today, then it makes things difficult to regret them. Many of my bad decisions that have happened to me were major learning experiences and because of this, I certainly don't regret them.
I'm pretty sure that some people regret decisions that caused them to be in a certain place at a certain time, getting mugged/raped/assaulted as a result. I think most victims of violent crime would rather have been spared the experience that made them what they are today.
just another guy wrote:
I completely agree with your deepthinking point of view. I fully intend to live my life chock full of regrets. Rarely do I attempt an action that will leave me without regret. I like to just beat on people (mentally and physically) for no reason whatsoever. I hate people that attempt to live a life of no regret. They are just weak little pussies. I, on the other hand, am a regret filled badass!!!
The point I believe that the OP was making is that having regrets is a basic part of life. So, the only way to live a life of no regrets is simply to fool yourself. He was not advocating seeking regret.
I agree that "no regrets" is pretty vapid, especially in comparison to the classic "the unexamined life is not worth living."
As silly (and it really is silly) as "no regrets" is, it is not even close to as stupid as "everything happens for a reason."
Yeah, I think if someone says that is shows they have no real depth. "I know I havent done everything right.. but if given the chance Id do it all over again JUST the same."
Really??
Well said, EZ10Miler; my thoughts exactly.
bmi overweight wrote:
As silly (and it really is silly) as "no regrets" is, it is not even close to as stupid as "everything happens for a reason."
I don't know, it's about as close. In fact it seems that many people who say one frequently say the other as well. These people content living life by cliche and not putting a great deal of thought into anything.
I'm pretty sure you're right. Notice how I said MY decisions. I'm not about to speak on behalf of human kind.
And to the other guy...why would you assume that my decisions affected other people? Certainly there are many others out there who are only looking out for themselves but it's a bit silly to think someone might be selfish when considering my decisions could mean- literally- a million of different things.
Like I said, all people have regrets, but a few of you who replied back to me must have selective reading traits.
sdgsdgsgs wrote:
Why is it that THIS particular life motto is so popular? Really, what kind of decent individual can actually live his or her life with "no regrets"? If you've ever intentionally hurt or offended someone, or committed any other kind of repulsive act, do you really want to say that you DON'T wish you hadn't done it? What kind of a spoiled-rotten-brat generation have we raised on this planet when the mores of this nation include "no regrets" as a valid way to live?
The quotes means to do things that you won't regret, not to not regret bad decisions. That being said, everyone is human and makes errors, but to dwell on an error serves no purpose. I live by this motto and truly don't regret any of my actions because I have done nothing to INTENTIONALLY hurt anyone else. The mistakes I have made in my life have taught me a better way to live, and therefore I do not regret them. Without them, I would not be who I am today and I am truly very happy with who I am.
I hope this explanation helps.
Widener wrote:And to the other guy...why would you assume that my decisions affected other people?
I guess I just assume that you live in a world in which you interact with other people. But perhaps you live in a closet?
Here was Tom Watson's response at the British Open this year when asked if he had any regrets from the 2009 British Open when he lost in a playoff:
"There's nothing I can do to bring it back. So there's no regrets. No regrets at all. That's how life is."
asdgfh wrote:
Here was Tom Watson's response at the British Open this year when asked if he had any regrets from the 2009 British Open when he lost in a playoff:
"There's nothing I can do to bring it back. So there's no regrets. No regrets at all. That's how life is."
This quote suggests that he has regrets, but that he doesn't see the value of dwelling on them.
I think this helps determine the meaning of the expression. Those who ascribe to it want to live life AS IF they have no regrets. Essentially, they believe that regret is a useless sentiment, even if it is natural.
It strikes me as a strange position because it seems to me that regret has a lot of value as a human emotion. It causes us to look back over our lives and analyze our decisions in order to behave better in the future. Certainly this is a practice that is valuable, at least in moderation.
So, maybe what folks really mean is try not to regret things more than necessary. But if this is what they really mean, then they choose a really strange way to express it.