We've all made mistakes.

We've all done things that we wish we hadn't done.

We've all missed opportunities and blown more of them than we care to admit.

I thought it may be beneficial to share some of our regrets with each other. They can be funny, embarrasing,sad, or frustrating. It's up to you.

My biggest regret was that I didn't attend my father's funeral. My husband and I were in Canada, when I got the news that my father had died suddenly of a massive coronary at the age of 52. It came as a shock. He'd had no history of a heart condition, and was a very fit and energetic man. My mother persuaded me not to fly home - but continue with our trip. I never got to say good-bye to him and have closure. I wish I could re-live that moment and change that decision.

Your turn ...

I've a few.

One of them's not all that dissimilar to yours, Foxy.

A while back, some of my family were travelling to New Zealand to see my grandmother. I didn't go, I was busy with work.

She'd recently finished a degree - when she was young, she hadn't had the opportunity to go to university to study history.
As an elderly woman, with her husband long dead and with spare time, she finished that dream.
She went back and aced the course, enjoying it immensely.

The result of her efforts was a huge tome - she'd painstakingly compiled a massive dossier on particular historical events relating to her thesis. It was quite fascinating.

As someone who had studied at university at a similar time to her and someone who'd always shared a certain interest in politics and history with her, she specifically sent me one of only two copies of her work, rather than the other relatives.

But I was bogged down at work and busy. I told myself I didn't have time to read such an enormous work but that I'd get around to it. Basically, the same reasons I didn't visit.

She was healthy for her age, which is why it was a shock that a few months after the family visit, cancer ripped through her at a rapid speed.
By the time I heard the news, family were already flying to be with her and within days she'd died.

She died before I read her work, despite the fact I'd had it for three months.
Although I was busy I wasn't so busy I couldn't have made time. I'm sure we'd have enjoyed discussing it.

This was a possibility I should have foreseen I guess, but that's the thing - it's not something you consider when they're your family. It seems stupid in hindsight.

After hearing she died, I took her work and cocooned myself alone with it for a few days and nights. I barely stopped reading for any of that time, emerging red-eyed but with all of it read.

Biggest regret; not fighting.

Little two year old terrified and her arms are wrapped around my neck, her legs are around my waist. She is screaming “No No No…” Her new NGO chosen mother who never bothered coming to meet her before this day is standing there saying “it’s all right we’re used to it”.

Was only three months ago but deep down I wish I had shouted at her, told her children do not scream like this when people care. Told her this little one had never screamed since I got her as a baby.

When people care they do not accept terror as an option. I wish I had walked back inside with the wee girl and commanded it was not done this way.

You know when the inevitable is going to happen anyway but you just need a little more time to make it okay? I hope this little one is okay now, but given the attitude I struck within DoCS and with the new parents I doubt she is.

This doubt keeps me held quite tightly within that feeling of regret and it hasn’t loosened its grip for a moment.

I am sorry for your regrets Foxy and TRTLeft, we’d all like to go back in time.

It may be just a guy thing, but...

I don't believe that actually experience regret, as such.

But...reflective embarrassment, yes, most certainly.

That moment when you go hot-and-cold while recalling an incident from the past that - oh, boy, would I ever do it differently today... Whatever must he/she/they have thought of me?

But regret is more difficult to pin down.

Do I regret not being more interested in my grandfather's WWI experience as a seventeen year-old in the mud of the trenches, that used to make him cry, silently, as he stood motionless against the mantlepiece at Christmas?

Sort of. But it's more like a learning experience, reminding myself not to allow opportunities like that to pass again.

Do I regret getting married too young? It was certainly a mistake that took a dozen years and a lot of pain to a number of people to resolve. But regret? Don't think so.

But embarrassment, now there's a thing...

Do you mean apart from not meeting Foxy , Fractelle, Bronwyn, Pelican, Romany, Oh hell most of the reasonable women on OLO before they met their respective hubbies what memories we could have made :-).....weeel then they all have one regret in common :-\.
Some days I regret just getting out of bed. On those days things start off bad and just get worse.
I do have the odd regret usually over things I've done particularly if it has hurt someone else. Rarely by intention but by acting in haste and regret at leisure.

Embarrassing whell...tragically too many to count. Ladies in my life have often said that being tangled up with me is NEVER boring creates lots of regrets but never boring.

To give you a flavour the night I organized going to a dockside pub with mates and we got Shanghied. Or the night I got home and found a fountain head from a city park sitting in the lounge. The night we conned a guy to wash my car with his hankie ...to remove the finger prints. Or the day I went up behind my girlfriend in the street and pinched her bum only to find it wasn't her....it was a police woman going to work....(oops). The time I got drunk and got into the wrong bed... apparently the girl complained telling me I was in her bed and I told her I didn't mind if she didn't snore too loud and promply went to sleep (hic). The time I slept off a good night at mums waking in the morning with a black BMW and not knowing how or where the owner lived.And when I did return it her front door opened and there war another door with a waist coat well he filled the door and And I could only remember her name as 'Honey chops'(oops er "oh my gawd...don't hit me..please"). The night while at consular party I collapsed onto the buffee face first.(doesn't every one?)
Like I said life has been interesting. And if I ever find that chinaman I'll....... :-| :-)

Being a bit bi-polar, I did have something of a misspent youth, but I don't really regret any of my adventures. Those memories will bring a smile to my face in my dotage. Especially my ability to get out of tricky situations. Gift of the gab, I guess.

I do regret my lack of self esteem that lead me into a bad marriage at an early age.

My back regrets my indulging extreme sports such as abseiling and the occasional fall from my motorbike. My back has been extremely regretful the past few weeks.

I regret the Protestant work ethic that meant I kept on working when I really should've taken a break.

However, the paths my bad decisions have taken me on have lead to a level of understanding of both myself and others that I never would've realised had I taken the 'safe' route.

I wouldn't trade a single adventure for financial security - something will turn up - it always does. Landing on one's feet after a long fall is exhilarating.

Adrenalin is still intoxicating - I just don't need as much these days.

Foxy, I also lost my dad at an early age, when I was very angry at him for being drunk again. Caused major depressive episode.

Examinator - we have all met - right here right now. I think that is fantastic.