All my life I've heard about deathbed regrets. "If you do (not) that, you'll regret it on your deathbed!" Most of the time I don't believe it. I seriously doubt, with all that will be going on, that I am going to regret going to a basketball game in the 11th grade instead of eating dinner with my grandmother. Besides, how many people are actually awake and cognizant when they die? Let alone wailing, "I should have let my cousin have the last banana Popsicle!"
Give me a break. Or don't. I don't care. I'm still not going to live my life governed by fear of what I will worry about in my last moments.
But all of this leads to think of the things that people would never regret, even if they have plenty of time and the inclination.
No one ever regrets on a deathbed:
- Spending money on a trip.
- Over tipping a waitress who looks tired.
- Buying a small gift for a friend just because.
- Leaving a dirty floor to read a good book.
- Leaving a good floor to read a dirty book.
- Letting someone go first in a grocery line.
I could go on, but I'd regret it on my deathbed.
Hmm. I was actually pretty excited about this blog. I've been thinking about it for a few weeks. Now it seems lame. Oh, well. It's what I've got today.
What is something you think no one would regret?
Spending time coloring with your child when you should be working.
ReplyDeleteCalling in sick and then spending the day doing what you please.
Not jumping from a perfectly good airplane with a piece of silk strapped to your back.
Not swimming with sharks.
I have also been thinking about it, Jean. There are a lot of things I won't regret!
Eating ice cream.
ReplyDeleteBuying a great pair of shoes.
A new mattress.
I don't think anyone on their deathbed ever said, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office."
ReplyDeleteMarilyn (who is not surprised by Maven Linda's shoe comment ;-) )
I don't think anyone would ever regret spending time with a child or helping a friend out.
ReplyDeleteI also think no one would regret pursuing a dream even if it didn't turn out exactly the way one hoped!
Spending time with my children whenever they needed me and when they did not.
ReplyDeleteSetting aside my life for my kids.
Stopping what I'm doing any time my children needed or still want to talk.
Giving of myself even when I didn't want to.
So Jean, you've been telling me about "Buyer's regret." I have a tendency to suffer from this almost daily. Arrrr! But I certainly do not want to be on my deathbed thinking my children do not know who I am or my grandchildren never knew me. That may not be important to some, but I was brought up to believe nothing should stand before you and your kin. Even after I sell a book, the only lasting thing that will remain when I'm gone will be the memories and stories my children will tell their children and their children and so forth. Amen!
I'll never regret traveling and spending money to see friends and family, near and far. Making memories is like building treasures for heaven. I want a big big room filled with happy memories. The movies in my head will be what I want to see when I get there. Otherwise, what's the point?
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry I didn't reply to y'all yesterday. Unexpected things happened that impeded my progress. Nothing that wasn't solved, but stuff happens.
ReplyDeleteI'm all over ice cream and memories. You can't get it back. Interesting that lots of these things--yours and mine--had to do with money. Trite, but you can't take it.