At 62 years old, I often look back on my life and some of the things I did or didn’t do. I am happy with how my life turned out, but I know that if I had done things differently, my life might have been even a tad better.
While I generally don’t live with regret as I live by the motto ‘it is what it is, ‘ I thought I’d share some of the biggest regrets that I do have (side note: they don’t consume my life).
I hope that by me sharing these, you will gain some courage from my biggest regrets and not let them control your life. I think it’s important to remember that we only have ONE life, and we should live it to the absolute fullest.
10 biggest regrets in life from a 62-year-old woman
These are some of my biggest regrets in life. I have much smaller ones, too, but I found that out of all the regrets most people talk about, these are the top ones.
I hope these open your eyes to your life and help you live bravely and out loud!
Not Taking More Risks
I wished I had taken more risks and tried new things instead of always playing it safe. I felt that my life could have been more adventurous and fulfilling. Life is a collection of experiences.
Rather than dwelling on regret, I now throw all caution to the wind and definitely take more chances and risks. I am here for it all these days!
Caring Too Much About What Others Think
I spent my entire life worried that people wouldn’t like me. I did ridiculously stupid things so people WOULD like me, even sacrificing my own self-worth. I cared too much about the opinions of others and I feel that because of this, I wasn’t as confident and bold in my actions and dreams.
I could not care less anymore what people think of me. You like me? Great. You don’t like me? Well, that’s great too. I like me and that’s all that matters.
Check out my recent short over on my YouTube channel about how I feel on this topic!
Not Traveling Enough
I wish I would have started traveling sooner and gone to way more places. Way more cool places like Africa and Iceland! I didn’t really start travelling until I was in my 50s and while I’m not implying my traveling days are over, I have less desire to deal with airport chaos, travel blips and all the drama that goes with.
I will still do some traveling, but I’m not as eager to jump on a plane for a 14-hour flight across the ocean these days.
Not Pursuing Their Passion
I don’t think I dreamed big enough or believed in my dreams. I was a hairstylist for 25 years and while I did love this career up until maybe the last year, it wasn’t my first passion.
Don’t laugh, but I really wanted to be an actress on a soap opera. I also wanted to be a singer in a band. I had big dreams and passions. I think I would have succeeded as an actress: probably not as a singer. Ha!
Taking Family and Friends for Granted
I regret not cherishing my relationships with my family and friends more. I can now realize the importance of the relationships I once overlooked. And while my family life was definitely dysfunctional, I feel I probably could have been a better sister, aunt, mother, granddaughter, etc.
I am making up for lost time and am now really close with my sisters. The rest of my family has since passed. I also have toxic family members that I no longer associate with, and I wish I had dumped them sooner.
Not Taking Care of Their Health
I smoked for almost 50 years of my life, I ate super shitty food, I drank more than I should have and did an awful lot of drugs, some recreational, some not. I finally just quit smoking and quit sugar, but I’m sad I even started smoking in the first place.
What a horrible, brutal addiction!!!!
Staying in a toxic Relationship
I was in one toxic relationship after another, desperately looking for love. I had my self-confidence and self-worth stripped away from me my entire life. I was the world’s greatest people pleaser.
Pleasing everyone but myself. I let people who claimed to love me abuse me over and over again. I’ve never had a healthy relationship.
While this is sad, I am grateful because these toxic relationships made me the strong person I am today. Still, I wish I didn’t have to go through all that.
Not Forgiving Others sooner
A lot of people did me wrong. A LOT! I held grudges and stayed angry at these people for a really long time. All this did was kill my soul and make me a bitter, angry woman.
I learned that forgiveness is key to freedom, but it took me until I was in my 50s to forgive all the people who hurt me. Don’t wait.
You might really like this article on forgiveness.
Not Saving Enough Money
I hit rock bottom more times than I can count, and I know if I had learned to save money, I wouldn’t have suffered financially as much as I did. My financial ruins were so bad, I even declared bankruptcy twice..
And there were times in my life where I made an awful lot of money and just pissed it all away. I still kinda regret that because I’m still struggling financially, and not proud to admit that.
Not Pursuing Education
I didn’t finish high school, I didn’t go to university, and I didn’t take education seriously enough. I felt it was always too expensive or out of reach for me. Part of me thought schooling took too long, and I wanted things now.
I’m sorry I didn’t learn more things, finish high school or go to university to expand my knowledge. At 62, is it too late? Probably not, but I can’t afford it at this stage in my life.
final thoughts on life’s biggest regrets
I hope that by me sharing these biggest regrets of my life that it will make you stop and think about your own life and help you not make the same mistakes I did so you can live your life to the fullest and the way YOU want.
Living with regret is a waste of time and is soul sucking. Whatever happened, happened, it’s time to let it go and start living life now, no matter how old you are.
How to Fully Embrace Life After 50
Many women and men are afraid that life after 50 all goes downhill, but does it really? Are you living your life to the fullest?
