Cheat Sheet for Living Life without Regret

[Dianthus]

I read an article today on the five most common regrets expressed by people facing death in palliative care.

I confronted similar issues in the months it took a dear cousin to die, realizing there but for the grace of a higher power, kismet or Fate, went I. It made me think about a lot of the issues raised in the article: choosing to be happy, having the courage to live a life true to oneself, expressing oneself honestly and with courage, not spending all my energy at the office and keeping in touch with friends.

So, I ask you:

• What are your tips and tricks for living life?
• Are there themes that come around again and again that you must deal with?
• What trait or behaviour would you tell your kids (or someone else's) is the key to being happy?

 

[mynameisben]

I read an article today on the five most common regrets expressed by people facing death in palliative care.

I confronted similar issues in the months it took a dear cousin to die, realizing there but for the grace of a higher power, kismet or Fate, went I. It made me think about a lot of the issues raised in the article: choosing to be happy, having the courage to live a life true to oneself, expressing oneself honestly and with courage, not spending all my energy at the office and keeping in touch with friends.

So, I ask you:

• What are your tips and tricks for living life?
• Are there themes that come around again and again that you must deal with?
• What trait or behaviour would you tell your kids (or someone else's) is the key to being happy?

Nobody knows how to live a life. It's all trial and error. Dare to try, and dare to err. If you never try at all, that will be your greatest error. If you never err, then it's time to try your hand at something else. The most important thing of all, though, is that when you err you actually learn from it. No matter how spectacularly you fail at something, it is never a failure so long as you can pick yourself up and walk away from it wiser for the experience. The only real failure in life is when you stop trying. It is only when you give up on your dreams that your dreams will give up on you.

 

[SamScribble]

Thought provoking, indeed, Di.

I guess that first one, a life true to yourself, would be number one on my list. Not that I’ve always had the courage to stay on the path. Although I do try to do it a lot more now that I’m playing in the second half. (I hope it’s not too late.)

I suppose one of the problems for many of us is that, at times, it can seem like a rather fine line between being true to yourself and just being a selfish prat. Still, I guess learning to navigate the line is one of life’s more important lessons.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

:

• What are your tips and tricks for living life?
  
  - try it; you just might like it.
  
  
• Are there themes that come around again and again that you must deal with?
  
  -yes, and when they do, you know you didn't deal with them. Do something about it.
  
  
• What trait or behaviour would you tell your kids (or someone else's) is the key to being happy?
  
  -be true to yourself, but don't think you're the only person who matters.

(Oversimplified, but otherwise I tend towards the verbose. Today is minimalist day.)

 

[Dianthus]

Another good article in the same vein: 15 things you should give up in order to be happy.

 

[_Lynn_]

Another good article in the same vein: 15 things you should give up in order to be happy.

I gave up a 33+ year marriage in order to be happy . . . with #15 of this list a perfect fit.

 

[topace]

My advice: Follow one simple rule:

Do no harm to anyone in any which way.

I follow it (sofar faithfully) and I don't regret anything. If I were to die today, I wouldn't regret any of the choices I've made.

 

[Handley_Page]

I read an article today on the five most common regrets expressed by people facing death in palliative care.

I confronted similar issues in the months it took a dear cousin to die, realizing there but for the grace of a higher power, kismet or Fate, went I. It made me think about a lot of the issues raised in the article: choosing to be happy, having the courage to live a life true to oneself, expressing oneself honestly and with courage, not spending all my energy at the office and keeping in touch with friends.

So, I ask you:

• What are your tips and tricks for living life?
• Are there themes that come around again and again that you must deal with?
• What trait or behaviour would you tell your kids (or someone else's) is the key to being happy?

Feeling that I had help from a Higher Power whilst I stared Death in the face, I came to the following conclusions:

It is far better to leave behind friends & family who smile when you are remembered.
Self-doubt is a waste of time, but always take advice of an expert.
To be happy, it's best to just damned well do it!

 

[topace]

A theme I keep having to deal with is a woman who pulls a fast one on me by hiding/not telling me of a boyfriend. I get a broken heart each time - I've almost given up on love - 3 broken hearts in 6 years will do that to you!

Another theme is having to deal with parents who think they can control me just because I need their 'help'. Has led to a lot of fights & the latest round of no talking with each other and me not visiting their acreage.

The final theme I have to deal with regularly is Facebook 'friends' who aren't true friends. Mostly I just choose to move on and sooner or later, I find new people who like me the way I am (helps when you're a mini-celebrity).

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Nobody knows how to live a life. It's all trial and error. Dare to try, and dare to err. If you never try at all, that will be your greatest error. If you never err, then it's time to try your hand at something else. The most important thing of all, though, is that when you err you actually learn from it. No matter how spectacularly you fail at something, it is never a failure so long as you can pick yourself up and walk away from it wiser for the experience. The only real failure in life is when you stop trying. It is only when you give up on your dreams that your dreams will give up on you.

Prescription for disaster.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've lived a long time, and life kinda boils down to the following:

1. Get adequate rest.
2. Dress for the weather.
3. Eat breakfast.
4. Be useful.
5. Become competent at something.
6. Never take a female or Nigga or clergy seriously.
7. Never chase women, if a woman wants you she'll come get you.
8. Acquire real wealth. Tiffany and Mercedes and Rolex and FaceBook stock are for fools.
9. Humans are crazier than shithouse rats.

 

[PayDay]

I read an article today on the five most common regrets expressed by people facing death in palliative care.

That 'article' read quite a bit like a blog full of opinion.

So, I ask you:
What are your tips and tricks for living life?

Suicide is for quitters.

Are there themes that come around again and again that you must deal with?

Nope. Considering the size of the planet, and the amount of people, at any given time, there is always a better theme to deal with if one particular theme is not to your liking.

What trait or behaviour would you tell your kids (or someone else's) is the key to being happy?

Relax: A human being is basically just a statistic, someone else always has it much worse than you do, and someone else always has it much better than you do.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

That 'article' read quite a bit like a blog full of opinion.



Suicide is for quitters.



Nope. Considering the size of the planet, and the amount of people, at any given time, there is always a better theme to deal with if one particular theme is not to your liking.



Relax: A human being is basically just a statistic, someone else always has it much worse than you do, and someone else always has it much better than you do.

More bullshit.

Sometimes life isnt worth it. The Holocaust comes to mind.

 

[TxRad]

The one rule:

If you are not happy then you are doing something wrong. Change it or live with it, it is up to you.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The one rule:

If you are not happy then you are doing something wrong. Change it or live with it, it is up to you.

More Happy Horseshit from the idgit who thinks cancer is an alternative lifestyle.

 

[KlaytonFrost]

Thanks for posting this, and the link to the article. It made me think, and it's something I'm sure I'll come back to at some stage to try and work out more fully.

 

[topace]

More Happy Horseshit from the idgit who thinks cancer is an alternative lifestyle.

Now this made me laugh!

 

[Noor]

Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to yourself.

Its basically Hillel but 2000 years later still holds.

 

[topace]

Don't do to others what you wouldn't want done to yourself.

Its basically Hillel but 2000 years later still holds.

It's another way of saying the so-called 'golden rule' from the Bible.

My rule is so much easier, and besides not everyone is the same.

 

[Noor]

It's another way of saying the so-called 'golden rule' from the Bible.

My rule is so much easier, and besides not everyone is the same.

Or one could say the "Golden Rule" is a re-saying of Hillel, which actually dates back much further than that. All religions have a variation.

I prefer the negative one because that is more important.

 

[topace]

To each his or her own rule(s).

Seriously, I think anyone who's religious is a sheep - someone who's willing to not think for him/herself.

 

[Noor]

To each his or her own rule(s).

Seriously, I think anyone who's religious is a sheep - someone who's willing to not think for him/herself.

I suspect it is more that there are really no new thoughts of this kind.

 

[topace]

Sometimes I still can't believe religion is still around here in the 21st century...

 

[Handley_Page]

To each his or her own rule(s).

Seriously, I think anyone who's religious is a sheep - someone who's willing to not think for him/herself.

Oh Boy, are you putting your toe into serious water.
As one who is (still) recovering from throat cancer I can say that a certain belief in God (all him what you will) has helped me in my personal time of trouble, I really, really, think you are wrong.

 

[mynameisben]

When you give, expect nothing in return. Because if you do, then you aren't really giving, are you? Enjoy sex. And never, ever use it as a weapon or as a negotiating chip.