A mental trick here...imagine you are an 80 years old woman.

[btfly2]

My granny used to say "have a look around and enjoy it while you can"

What things would you have loved to do more? Or not regret?

I'm sorry if I sound silly. Have you ever had this kind of thought?

I don't want to be an elderly lady regretting or missing out something just because life is so busy nowadays and we kinda forget to remember you only have one life!

I wouldn't change a thing.

I have done a lot so far, travelled a great deal, loved some men and my life with passion, lived a lot, done a lot, and there have been more than a few traumas in my life.

I wouldn't change a thing. I have battlescars but I have grown and learned from them, and I wouldn't be who I am now without my experiences.

I have no regrets.

I'd imagine I will still wish I'd had another child, but I hope I will still remember the reasons I didn't as they were and are valid.

I think not moaning about my current good health with a few niggles, which at 50 I'm lucky enough to have, because by 80 things are tougher.

Omg. That question has so made me think. What a great question.

Soo nice to read all your comments and thoughts. I'm learning from every post. Thank you!!

I've realised I didn't tell about me... Well I think my big fear is about things, in latter years, will be those things I haven't done, rather than what I have done.

Another is that I need to remind myself not to worry too much because is not necessary at that level!

The worst I think is that many and I mean many times My Perfectionism standards are ridiculous and life is so precious to be wasted trying to be perfect!!

I know this will enrage many people on here because they hate the expression "blessed" but I do look around every day and that is what I feel.

I have two amazing children - which were not planned, we were going to be childfree for our lives, but have bought me more fun and frustration than I could possibly have imagined, a fantastic husband, a job which allows me to work from home - alright it's not life changing but it's challenging, I get to travel a bit and most of the time I get to pick the kids up and drop them off at school. I have a solid faith, a good church, a nice house, lovely friends, both sets of parents are in good health and finally after 33 years of waiting I have a dog. I am beyond fortunate and I know it.

So in retrospect, there is nothing I would change but I would like to spend less time get stressed and cross by stupid insignificant little things. I would also like to think that if my life weren't quite such easy sailing I would handle it with equanimity but I can't guarantee that.

Flippetydip

I don't mind the word blessed.

Not a day passes when I don't have to pinch myself to make sure this is all true.
I am not particulary rich, not particularly good looking,and I'm the wrong side of 40, but my life is so rich.

I have a warm comfortable home, my family are happy and healthy, I too have a small business that I run from home. My OH treats me like a goddess and adores our children.
I have had some very dark times in my life and my life is wonderful. I have day to day problems but that is part of living, overall I count my blessings

I don't mind the word blessed. Although I am an atheist I use the phrase " Blessed Be" regularly.

My mum died last week, aged 86.

I am 56. The fact that I might only have 30 years left (if I'm lucky) has concentrated my mind wonderfully! I am trying to enjoy one little thing each day - the taste of a cup of coffee, laughing with friends, walking my dogs in warm sunshine. I want to go feeling that I've really appreciated everything.

There's no money for 'experiences', so I try to make the most of the everyday ones, and not worry about things I can't do anything about.

I was chatting to my Mum the other day (who is in her seventies) and she said she wished she'd worked less and spent more time with the kids when they were young. She was self-employed so couldn't really turn down the work easily.

As an 80-year-old, I'd probably want to have travelled when young (and fit / healthy), shagged more men and not taken so much shite from those in my life who don't seem to want to respect my boundaries. I hope that by the time I reach that age (if I do!!) that I will have persued my dreams enough that I don't have any regrets about that.