No Regrets
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Many people would probably tell you that they try to live their life with no regrets. This probably means if someone offers them a big opportunity, they take a leap of faith and dive right in.
But I like to think that I “live with no regrets” on a much smaller scale. In my everyday decision making. [And of course you knew I was going to relate this to food and exercise!]
Take this scenario: It’s early in the morning and the alarm goes off. I am tempted to roll over and skip my workout. I ask myself Which would I regret more, sleeping in or a workout? Let me tell you, I have never regretted a workout!! There’s just nothing like starting the day refreshed. Sometimes it just takes 10 minutes of convincing myself that before I get up. But there have also been times when I’ve been really tired from tossing and turning all night or a sickness and I let myself sleep in. And those times, I didn’t regret it.
Have you ever regretted:
- Walking to your compost
- Eating cake on your birthday
- Having seconds of yourvery favorite food
- Getting up early to run on vacation on a beautiful beach
- Browsing a farmer’s market
- Going on a walk
- Drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve (OK, maybe if you had 5 glasses!)
- Bending like a noodle in yoga
- Enjoying a slice of buttercream cake at a wedding
Some things I have regretted:
- Having 4 slices of buttercream cake at a wedding (= sickly!)
- Not walking to my compost pile because the trash can was closer
- Skipping the farmer’s market for wimpy veggies at the grocery store
- A third glass of wine when I hardly remembered drinking it
- Driving instead of walking
- Mindlessly eating handful after handful of something at a party
- 5 glasses of champagne on New Year’s Eve…
Most of the decisions in this second list are choices that are very easily changed. They don’t require an overhaul of lifestyle – just a little effort and moderation. Not only do I try to make decisions that I know I won’t regret, I also have been working to avoid making the ones I do regret. There is a difference! I am working to live life with intention in everything I do – large and small.
[...] Breathe article on living with no regrets! [...]
I really like this article- I’ve definitely been focusing on balance and moderation in my life lately
I totally agree. For me, living with intention is living in the moment and truly paying attention rather than tuning out and thinking about 10,000 things at once. When I stop and really tune into what I am doing, even the simplest things like walking to the grocery store or holding that tough pose in yoga can be fun and so rewarding. I believe that finding and keeping that harmony and awareness is the key to no regrets.
I’m totally going to remember that (“I’ve never regretted a workout”) when my alarm goes off to wake up for running super early tomorrow morning!
Great post, Kath! I definitely regret mindless eating… I wonder why it doesn’t seem important while I do it
Thanks for the reminder to live with intent!! 