23 Things You’ll Regret When You’re Old
1. Not realizing how beautiful you are.
God says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" - and He ought to know - better than anyone here on earth. So you have it on the Highest authority. You just need to learn to believe it. It will change your whole life!
2. Caring too much about what other people think.
Hide your self-concept in God, where it's safe. We spend money we don't have, to buy things we don't need, to impress people who don't really care. If they truly do care, they will love you just the way you are - so don't worry about the rest.
3. Not standing up for yourself.
As you see how God delights in you and your self-concept begins to rest in Him, this will become easier and more natural. You'll find you're just as good as everyone else.
4. Being scared to do things.
Looking back you’ll think, What was I so afraid of? You'll grow from wimp to warrior. I know - it happened to me.
5. Being afraid to say “I love you.”
Yes, you've probably cast your pearls before swine and been hurt - more than once, but with a refreshed root system in your heart, frozen emotions can be thawed and unconditional love can begin to flow.
6. Failing to finish what you start.
As you get more faithful in completing little things, you will gain the confidence to take on the bigger things.
7. Never taking a big risk.
As Helen Keller - who was deaf and blind - said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." God gave us life as a great adventure, but the thief tries to steal it. That can be rectified. And it's not really a risk if you're walking it out in His love and sovereignty.
8. Supporting others’ dreams over your own.
This is one of the fruits of true freedom. Once you are fulfilled from within, you are free to bless others. God fulfills you from on high - so you are free to pour it out here on earth in the way of blessing to others.
9. Not moving on fast enough.
Old people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but wasted time.
10. Holding grudges, especially with those you love.
Holding grudges is like saying to the other person I am going to poison myself with spite to get back at you. Doesn't make much sense - and it only hurts you, not them. Stop it.
11. Failing to make physical fitness a priority.
A group of people came for counseling. They counseled half of them and put the other half on a running program. The runners turned out emotionally healthier than the ones counseled. (Do this and I may not have a job! That's fine.) It deals with stress and burns out physical impurities that affect the psyche.
12. Working too much.
No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.
13. Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment.
Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing. Sometimes we're afraid to stop and do this for fear that we'll get in touch with ourselves.
14. Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.
Don't let the culture define who you are. God says you are unique and there is none other created and gifted as you are. Learn that.
15. Refusing to let friendships and other experiences run their course.
We go ( or grow - hopefully) through various seasons in our life. We need to learn to appreciate them for what they offered and press on.
16. Not playing with your kids enough.
When you’re old, you’ll realize your kid went from wanting to play with you to wanting you out of their room in the blink of an eye.
17. Not taking the time to develop contacts and network.
Networking may seem irrelevant when you’re young, but later on it becomes clear that it’s how many jobs and friendships are developed.
18. Worrying too much.
Don't worry...be happy! Worrying is wasted energy that doesn't change anything. Convert that energy to reasoning with God. That can change things - most likely you, if nothing else.
19. Getting caught up in needless drama.
Who needs it? One of the major distractions and pitfalls of the thief along the road of life.
20. Not spending enough time with loved ones.
Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count. As you grow to love yourself more...you will love and appreciate them more - and be able to show it.
21. Not quitting a terrible job.
Explore your gifts. The person who loves what they are doing never worked a day in their life. God will bring that forth. He desires to. We just have to learn to let Him.
22. Not being grateful sooner.
This IS the day which the Lord has made, let us (learn to) rejoice and be glad in it - even in the midst of the swamp full of alligators! Psalms are full of such examples.
23. Not volunteering enough.
Fulfillment is God's gifts working their way out of you. Seeing what He can do through you (in His power, not yours) is a great blessing. Nearing the end of one’s life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.
1. Not realizing how beautiful you are.
God says you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" - and He ought to know - better than anyone here on earth. So you have it on the Highest authority. You just need to learn to believe it. It will change your whole life!
2. Caring too much about what other people think.
Hide your self-concept in God, where it's safe. We spend money we don't have, to buy things we don't need, to impress people who don't really care. If they truly do care, they will love you just the way you are - so don't worry about the rest.
3. Not standing up for yourself.
As you see how God delights in you and your self-concept begins to rest in Him, this will become easier and more natural. You'll find you're just as good as everyone else.
4. Being scared to do things.
Looking back you’ll think, What was I so afraid of? You'll grow from wimp to warrior. I know - it happened to me.
5. Being afraid to say “I love you.”
Yes, you've probably cast your pearls before swine and been hurt - more than once, but with a refreshed root system in your heart, frozen emotions can be thawed and unconditional love can begin to flow.
6. Failing to finish what you start.
As you get more faithful in completing little things, you will gain the confidence to take on the bigger things.
7. Never taking a big risk.
As Helen Keller - who was deaf and blind - said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." God gave us life as a great adventure, but the thief tries to steal it. That can be rectified. And it's not really a risk if you're walking it out in His love and sovereignty.
8. Supporting others’ dreams over your own.
This is one of the fruits of true freedom. Once you are fulfilled from within, you are free to bless others. God fulfills you from on high - so you are free to pour it out here on earth in the way of blessing to others.
9. Not moving on fast enough.
Old people look back at the long periods spent picking themselves off the ground as nothing but wasted time.
10. Holding grudges, especially with those you love.
Holding grudges is like saying to the other person I am going to poison myself with spite to get back at you. Doesn't make much sense - and it only hurts you, not them. Stop it.
11. Failing to make physical fitness a priority.
A group of people came for counseling. They counseled half of them and put the other half on a running program. The runners turned out emotionally healthier than the ones counseled. (Do this and I may not have a job! That's fine.) It deals with stress and burns out physical impurities that affect the psyche.
12. Working too much.
No one looks back from their deathbed and wishes they spent more time at the office, but they do wish they spent more time with family, friends, and hobbies.
13. Not stopping enough to appreciate the moment.
Young people are constantly on the go, but stopping to take it all in now and again is a good thing. Sometimes we're afraid to stop and do this for fear that we'll get in touch with ourselves.
14. Letting yourself be defined by cultural expectations.
Don't let the culture define who you are. God says you are unique and there is none other created and gifted as you are. Learn that.
15. Refusing to let friendships and other experiences run their course.
We go ( or grow - hopefully) through various seasons in our life. We need to learn to appreciate them for what they offered and press on.
16. Not playing with your kids enough.
When you’re old, you’ll realize your kid went from wanting to play with you to wanting you out of their room in the blink of an eye.
17. Not taking the time to develop contacts and network.
Networking may seem irrelevant when you’re young, but later on it becomes clear that it’s how many jobs and friendships are developed.
18. Worrying too much.
Don't worry...be happy! Worrying is wasted energy that doesn't change anything. Convert that energy to reasoning with God. That can change things - most likely you, if nothing else.
19. Getting caught up in needless drama.
Who needs it? One of the major distractions and pitfalls of the thief along the road of life.
20. Not spending enough time with loved ones.
Our time with our loved ones is finite. Make it count. As you grow to love yourself more...you will love and appreciate them more - and be able to show it.
21. Not quitting a terrible job.
Explore your gifts. The person who loves what they are doing never worked a day in their life. God will bring that forth. He desires to. We just have to learn to let Him.
22. Not being grateful sooner.
This IS the day which the Lord has made, let us (learn to) rejoice and be glad in it - even in the midst of the swamp full of alligators! Psalms are full of such examples.
23. Not volunteering enough.
Fulfillment is God's gifts working their way out of you. Seeing what He can do through you (in His power, not yours) is a great blessing. Nearing the end of one’s life without having helped to make the world a better place is a great source of sadness for many.