Are you one of those people who say, “I’ve never done anything in my life that I regret”? I’m certainly not. I’ve done dozens of things in my life that I regret. And I keep right on doing them.
Wrong relationships, flawed investments, unnecessary expenses, impulsive steps, things said in the heat of the moment, pointless resentments, over-sensitivities—the list goes on and on.
In a podcast I listened to the other day, Prof. Acar Baltaş said, “A person who doesn’t feel regret is a person who doesn’t learn from their mistakes.” Well, whatever Professor Baltaş says, I tend to think he’s right. But his sentence really got me thinking.
Because despite all my regrets, to this day I still turn around and repeat some of the mistakes listed above—and yes, I regret them all over again. I’d like to think I’m learning from my regrets, and I am eagerly waiting for the day when I finally stop falling into the same traps. But that day might actually never come 🙂
Why? Because it’s just my nature. Under normal circumstances, my brain jumps in right away: Don’t make this investment, don’t get into this relationship, don’t take this risk. But that stubborn, impulsive side of mine? When that kicks in, my logic packs its bags and disappears. That hope of “What if the outcome is different this time?” Ah, right there… 🙂
Throughout my journey in life, the mistakes I’ve regretted have been just as much my companions as the right decisions I’ve been proud of.
Where is it written that we should crown our right decisions with pride, yet feel ashamed of our mistakes?
Can a life without mistakes really be considered a life truly lived? And once we feel regret and learn from our mistakes, how realistic is it to expect never to make another mistake again? We can make the same mistake over and over, feel regret, and draw completely different lessons from it each time. Telling ourselves, “I’ve learned my lesson, from now on I will never slip up again,” is nothing more than a big lie we tell ourselves.
A flawless, smooth life is nothing more than a perfect illusion pushed on us by society, if you ask me. Sure, there are people out there who always play it safe, who move with logic instead of impulses, who never rush, and who consequently make fewer mistakes. The “play-it-safers” 🙂 Please don’t be mad at me. We all get tested by life in different ways. But I also wish they wouldn’t constantly judge me and people like me.
As for us—the impulsive, impatient, and stubborn ones—as we make our way toward our goals and chase our dreams, the paths we take and the way we behave can look a little different, from those of the cautious folks. This difference doesn’t mean either side is completely right or completely wrong. It just means the roads and choices are different, that’s all.
I’ve always been someone who can own up to her mistakes. I have felt my regrets deeply, and I still do. I am who I am, and I love being this way. I notice how life keeps testing me over and over through the same places, just wearing different costumes and scripts. And somehow, I faithfully find my way back to the same old mistakes. I guess that means I haven’t learned my lesson yet. Cue the rewind. But you know what? That’s okay. Life isn’t monotone. There are ups and downs, rights and wrongs. Maybe the point isn’t to learn your lesson and never slip up again. Maybe regrets and mistakes are just the bittersweet companions of our lives—sometimes teaching us, sometimes helping us grow, sometimes exhausting and wearing us down, but ultimately leading us somewhere meaningful.
I want to finish this post with a little note to myself:
Life is too short to be afraid of making mistakes, and way too long not to learn from them. Choose wisely!
With love,
Nazan
If These Piece had a Color : It would be ”The color of Rust”.
If These Piece had a Song : It would be : ”Demons” from Imagen Dragons. https://open.spotify.com/track/3U5JVgI2x4rDyHGObzJfNf?si=f9047821d23d42ac 
If These Piece had a Scent : It would be ”Rust”
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