Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu
“If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I’d take back those words that have hurt you
And you’d stay
I don’t know why I did the things I did
I don’t know why I said the things I said
Pride’s like a knife, it can cut deep inside
Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes”
If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher
We all have regrets, even when we pretend we don’t. We say, “I have no regrets,” but regret is simply proof that we’ve lived and learned.
I have my own list:
• I regret not saying sorry when I should have.
• I regret staying silent when I disagreed.
• I regret ending friendships over things that didn’t matter.
• I regret judging people without knowing their story.
• I regret not doing more when I could have.
• I regret letting ego speak louder than compassion.
• I regret not being fully authentic.
• I regret holding back because someone might disapprove.
• I regret not taking chances.
• I regret letting fear block adventure and possibility.
• I regret not expressing my true emotions.
• I regret letting fear decide what could have been.
• I regret overreacting in arguments.
• I regret wasting time doom‑scrolling.
• I regret not learning how to swim.
• I regret not learning how to ride a motorcycle.
• I regret abandoning the guitar too soon.
• I regret not saying what needed to be said.
• I regret making excuses.
• I regret resisting change instead of flowing with it.
• I regret spending money on things I didn’t need.
• I regret being impatient and impulsive.
• I regret giving up too quickly.
• I regret ghosting people and causing hurt.
It’s a long list and yet, I don’t regret my life.
Every choice, every mistake, every moment of fear shaped who I am today. The mistakes taught me something and the regrets made things clearer for me.
Some people live in true authenticity, saying what they feel, doing what they believe, moving through the world without apology. Many others live in fear, or in trying to impress others.
Most of us live somewhere in between.
I’ve realized there are some regrets I can still change. There are choices I can still make differently. There are fears I can still walk through. Regret doesn’t have to stay forever, it can show me what matters most.
The key to happiness or at least to inner peace I believe, is authenticity, being yourself fully. Speaking your truth, choosing your life instead of performing it. Letting go of the fear of what others might think.
Regret shows us where we stepped away from ourselves. Being truly authentic helps us come back to who we really are.
Quotes:
“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.” – Lewis Carroll
“Regret for wasted time is more wasted time.” – Mason Cooley
“Regret is insight that comes a little too late.” – Neil Gaiman