It's next to impossible to get through life without regrets. Whether it was a missed opportunity to ask someone out or missing a chance to say goodbye to a loved one before they walked on, missed opportunities are part of life.
We sometimes regret decisions and life choices too, but the missed opportunities always seem to hit the hardest when we look back on them.
Reddit user u/Alfredo1114 asked:
"What's a missed opportunity that you really regret?"
Romantic connections
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I once travelled alone by train from my hometown to the seaside - 3 hours journey. I was seated near a very cute girl who was very friendly. We chatted all the way and it seemed we had so much in common. she seemed to really enjoy the conversation and she was really interested about my work, hobbies, etc. When we split I hesitated to ask for her number and only told her "see you". I will never forget her surprised face. She was expecting me to ask her for the number. I just realized how stupid I was just moments later but she was gone. I tried to find her on Facebook with little information I had but it was in vain.
-ph54
Not what you think
Telling one girl how I really felt about her before she stopped talking to me. Not in a romantic way, I just think she needed to hear what a sh*t person she was and understand the full extent of my hatred towards her.
Steam train
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Driving a steam train.
I was raised on Thomas the Tank engine books and wanted to be a train driver since I was 3. My parents took us to a steam festival where they had a length of track and a narrow gauge engine set up and were letting people drive the train from one end to the other. It was a dream come true. My dad refused to come with me, so I joined the queue on my own. 5 mins in I realized I was the only female and the only person under 30. The rest of the queue and people walking past were giving me some odd looks. I was a horribly self-conscious 15 year old and started feeling so uncomfortable I freaked out and ran back to my parents. I've always regretted it.
Social Media
It's a double edged sword for me...
But never really using social media.
I pretty much grew up online in the 90s. The biggest rule on the Internet in the early days was never to dox yourself entirely. So I was always careful.
So careful that I poopoo'd the very idea of Facebook and other personalized social media. So I never had one because it went against everything I believed in.
Fast forward to today where virtually everyone has it. Facebook, LinkedIn, instagram, etc.
My circle of friends has dwindled down to whoever has my number. I don't know what anybody is up to any more. Not having a digital footprint has made me somewhat unfit for employment within my industry.
There's definitely an opportunity cost when it comes to being easily accessible via social media.
But on the other hand...I'm free. Completely untethered from our technological overlords.
Read the book
I once got this really nice book about movie effects and stuff back when I was younger and wanted to make movies, but as I got older I realized that I was probably never good enough to make movies for Hollywood. Now im in my 20s and that's what I turned back to, and I would've had a much better start if I actually read that damn book 10 years ago...
Another train connection
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Around 10 or 11 years ago, I was on a train back to London Kings Cross from Newcastle as I'd been working up there. This girl sat next to me for the journey. She was stunning. I struck up conversation with her as she was having problems joining her laptop to the rubbish train WiFi so I helped her out. We chatted the journey away. She was dark haired, really gorgeous face. She was visiting the UK from a place I think was called Plano in Texas, not long out of college. Anyway, we swapped mobile numbers and went our separate ways.
At the time, I was in a relationship. I didn't think she would ever text me, but before I even got home she got in touch and asked if I wanted to meet for a drink. I told her that I had a girlfriend and she apologized and that was the last I ever heard of her. Can't remember her name, never did Facebook or MySpace so no connection there. All I remember was where she was from and how attractive she was, both physically and personally. I sometimes catch a glimpse of her face deep in the recesses of my mind.
Anyway, I went on to marry my girlfriend and have two beautiful children. Nearly two years ago I found out she had been cheating on me our entire relationship with several (at least 6 I know of) guys and I'm currently finalizing my divorce with her.
I often wonder how different my life would have been if I met 'Texas' when I was single. I'd never in a million years trade my children for a go over but sometimes I remember her and wonder how she's doing in her life. I hope she's happy.
Promotion
I, a lowly grunt worker, once turned down the offer of a 90 minute chauffeured car ride back in to town with the Chairman of the company I worked for (and the opportunity to make my case for a promotion or whatever) because "I've already bought my train ticket".
Uni
I got into the best university in my country for a bachelors degree in psychology and was so pumped to go there because of how passionate I am about it, but my parents made me cancel my admission there (despite everyone begging them not to because of how prestigious it was). They enrolled me into a course I absolutely hate into a different university, and it's going to ruin my life because I don't want to study this absolute bs.
High School Musical
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I wish I had had more fun in high school. I was so focused on my grades that I spent all of my time at school or at home, not with friends.
Now I'm in my 20s, and I don't have that kind of time anymore. I feel like I missed out a lot on social growth.
Move out
Not going to college in another city. I feel like i have missed out on the best part of the college years, by studying in my hometown.
