#1
#2
Sometimes you don't have to do anything "wrong".
#3
She graduated, left the state and never spoke to anyone in our town ever again. No social media, no LinkedIn, nothing. Wouldn’t be surprised if she completely changed her name.
We all have regrets in life. Though they are most definitely not the same in size and scope, if you allow your regrets to poison your life, it will affect your mental and emotional health and harm your future prospects.
The healthiest thing to do is to accept what has happened to you, begin the healing process (a therapist’s help here is vital), and regain your confidence. It’s easier said than done, but everyone has the power to live a good, long, and healthy life, no matter the mistakes they have made in the past. Tragic experiences in your youth can scar you for life, but you can also overcome them and grow stronger.
One study found that experiencing greater regret is associated with various negative effects, including depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction.
However, regret does not necessarily have to be a negative experience. It can, in some circumstances, be incredibly productive and help you anticipate problems in the future. Meanwhile, if you use other people’s regrets as a reference, you can avoid a lot of pain in your own life, too.
#4
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#6
She did not survive. 💔
She was genuinely a wonderful person and she was popular for all the right reasons.
I still randomly break down over her loss all the time. I never know when the grief and rage will hit.
According to Robert Leahy, PhD, the founder and director of the American Institute for Cognitive Therapy in New York City, the difference between productive and unproductive regret is that the former allows you to learn from your mistakes or to anticipate learning from your mistakes. In other words, regret can be a type of self-correction.
On the other hand, unproductive regret is marked by self-criticism, self-loathing, rumination, and refusing to learn from the experience.
Leahy told the American Psychological Association that the “most economical way” to approach things is to use the regrets of other people to guide your own life. In other words, learning from other people’s mistakes is far less costly and painful than experiencing those regrets firsthand.
According to the expert, one of the techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy is to ask yourself what your future self would say about your choices. “What would your future self say? Not your immediate self, your future self, because your future self may be the wise self. And that’s something that I think that’s something that people often don’t recognize—that consequences will follow from actions that you take or do not take.”
#7
The next day, on Christmas Eve, Jock and his dad were driving, when they got pulled over by Memphis PD for a broken tail light. Dad got paranoid, and before the cop could even ask him for his license and registration, he broke and frantically confessed their recent burglary. I can only assume the Jock just rolled his eyes and kept muttering, "Shut up Dad, Shut UP." They got arrested, and Mom refused to bail them out, so they spent Christmas in county lockup. They were charged with felony burglary afterwards and took a plea deal.
#8
#9
His junior year he got a little too drunk at a party, decided to sneak out and take the interstate home. He drove into the pillar of an overpass doing at least 100mph. I’ll never forget the picture of his truck that got shared around. He didn’t even know he hit. Just a kid letting loose and made a terrible decision that nobody caught him doing. RIP.
What happened to the most popular kids who went to your school, Pandas? Have any of your schoolmates completely wrecked their lives, despite being talented, bright, and gregarious?
What are the biggest regrets that you have from your school days and young adulthood? What life advice would you give anyone who is about to finish their education and enter adult life for the very first time?
Share your stories and words of wisdom at the bottom of this post.
#10
Eventually one of his customers got busted and the cops got his number and set up a controlled buy.
As "Kingpin" was headed to the spot, the cops changed the location to the high school parking lot so they could REALLY put the screws to him for selling in a school zone.
Earned himself a couple years in prison for that. .
#11
#12
Works. Got caught blowing her boyfriend under the bleachers during a football game. Lost her crown and the pageant was canceled forevermore. It was glorious and I revel in it to this day, as she was a nasty little jerk to everyone she deemed to be below her, which was everyone.
#13
#14
But the document he presented was fake as hell so he got arrested again with all sorts of fun felonies.
#15
That was in 6th grade. Then he gradually put on weight, became really withdrawn and depressed, and was rumored to be struggling with dependencies. I have no idea what happened, but he never recovered. Later in life, he sobered up and became a dock worker. After coming from a rich family and seeming like he was all set for life.
I'm guessing something bad happened in his life that led to that spiral. But it also hit me that he probably never knew how popular he was when he was 12. He probably thought he was just riding his bike around and talking to different kids, being a normal kid. He probably still has no idea he was so many girls' first crush.
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#19
Anyways, he goes off to college and doesn’t change his ways at all. A year before he’s set to graduate, he makes the news again. He had gotten into a drunk argument at a frat party and decided to drive back with dual weapons. Got charged with attempt to take a life and ruined his future.
#20
Refused to grow up and get a job.
Didn't pay her bills.
Blamed everyone under the sun for her issues.
Alienated anyone who tried to help her in an honest way.
Wore her parents down so much that it put them in an early grave.