The other day I was driving with my great uncle and talking about life. He has done some fascinating things, so I love hearing about his life, his stories from serving in the military, childhood, work, etc. As we were riding, we started talking about regrets. I commented about how I’m constantly looking back at myself from about five years ago and noting what I had done wrong or how I had been immature in something. Then my uncle made two comments that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

First, he said that if you continue to relive past regrets, it will consume you. You have to keep moving forward and let the past remain in the past. But, it’s the next thing he said that got me.

He said it’s the things you didn’t do that you will regret the most. It’s the risks that you don’t take and the possibilities that you leave on the table that you will regret more than the stupid decisions that you have made. Consider the gravity of that statement. I have done and said some dumb things in my time, but I will regret the missed opportunities more.