Life has a steep learning curve and one poor decision can drastically alter the course of your own.
This isn't to say that it's impossible to get back up even stronger—many people do this each and every day—but many more will have to settle for being older and wiser even if the way they originally wanted things to go didn't come to pass.
People shared their experiences after Redditor SweatyBag99729 asked the online community:
"What is the decision you regret the most?"
"Not being able to..."
"Not being able to communicate my thoughts in a clear manner. Not being able to show much emotions or being able to show any kind of affection. It's cost me many a relationship."
unwanted_species
We're sorry to hear this. Therapy can work wonders, especially with being more open about your feelings.
"Not trying what I want..."
"Not taking chances and seeing it compound. Not trying what I want because I might fail. Not asking that girl out because she might say no. Not living, I spent too much fearing what might go wrong and not enough time pursuing life."
accidentlycelibate
This can be very debilitating but you are not alone. Many struggle with this. Why not try? You have nothing to lose.
"I was bullied at school..."
"Not sticking up for myself more. I was bullied at school and abused at home. It took some time for me to recover from it all. If I had been able to spend that time and energy on other things, so who knows what I might have accomplished."
skunkwaffle
Bullying can scar children for life and the fact that society often looks the other way is horrible.
"Letting myself be isolated..."
"Letting myself be isolated and get really sad and overweight before doing something about it. Only really started living at 32 feels like i wasted a lot of my life."
CJNitroSpark
Many people have shared that their 30s are their best decade. You can be you! It's not too late.
"I was pressured into it..."
"Going to college. Like most millennials I was pressured into it, to the point that I never even considered careers that didn't require a college education. Now I'm working as a cook after giving up my teaching career, and I love it."
mgraunk
College isn't necessarily for everyone–it's great to hear that you're happy doing something you enjoy!
"My quality of life..."
"Not looking after my physical health. My quality of life would be many times higher now if I just did 30 minutes of exercise, ate more then once every two days, and brushed my teeth."
"Waking up in pain every morning can set your whole day up to be bad if you let it and also I can't remember the last time I smiled and wasn't immediately depressed, embarrassed and self conscious about my teeth."
"I'm not even 25 yet either."
Everyday_Hero1
The best time to start is now. Unfortunately, dental care can be so expensive in this country, so we feel you there.
"My family not going into the room..."
"My family not going into the room with my dog when he had to be put down. My dad told me it would be too hard to handle and I shouldn't have listened to him."
"I was the closest to him and I should have been there for his last moments. I let my dad know how much I regretted it and convinced him to go in with his dog years later. He's glad he did."
j1ggy
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Glad you were able to give your dad good advice.
"Doing so..."
"Not being honest about my depression. Doing so won't get me the help I desperately need. It's been getting worse over the years."
FromWhereAlien
If you're struggling with depression, there are many great resources out there, including SAMHSA's National Helpline.
It is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service and is available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
"Looking past all the red flags..."
"Looking past all the red flags with my wife's oldest kid, and getting in a committed relationship with her in the first place. I count the years I spent living with him among the worst of my life."
mryoudidntask
Being a step-parent is hard–and even more so when you're dealing with kids who don't want you around.
"Failing to acknowledge love..."
"Failing to acknowledge love when it was right there in front of me. Also ignoring the personal issues I have that have slowed me down and prevented me from becoming a better man/human."
GreenSleeves7
We've all been there. Sometimes you're just not ready to accept it.
If you're struggling with feelings of regret, you need to know that you can acknowledge your feelings but that dwelling on the past won't do you any good in the long run.
Show yourself some kindness. You deserve that. And don't be afraid to craft new goals.
Have some stories of your own to share? Feel free to tell us more in the comments below!
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.
