Korean Job Discussion Forums

lastat06513 · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Top-5 biggest regrets.........

What were the top-5 biggest regrets in your life?

Atavistic · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:56 am Post subject:

Sticking with my first relationship for 3 or 4 years too long.

Not studying abroad because of said relationship.

PBEnglish · Joined: 24 Nov 2006 Location: Shanghai

Sticking with a relationship too long yet still allowing the relationship to affect me. Taking her back after she admitted she cheated on me ranks pretty high up there as well.
Most of what I would consider regrets are based around relationships and their affect on me (I'm not entirely sure what that says about me though).

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

Not knowing 10 years ago what I know now, and acting accordingly. Laughing

joebj1178514 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

Not giving a crap in college, getting high and unable to find a job in the states, hence my life in Korea - worst of all, still unable to secure reefer.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Not applying for medical school when I had the chance...

I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.

browneyedgirl · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

Not breaking up with a boyfriend when a chance came up to be with someone much better.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:52 pm Post subject:

Only one regret: not going to the Olympics (lightweight rowing) when given the chance

lastat06513 · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject:

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

No regrets.
Not to say I havent made mistakes in life but now is all.

VanIslander · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:41 pm Post subject:

A regret isn't necessarily an emotion-packed remorseful response; a regret is an awareness of the cost of decisions made, of the value of roads not taken, and the belief if that an alternative could have been taken but wasn't. So, though there's a sense of loss, it's not like some overarching sorrow or disappointment, just reflection and assessment, and hence regret & relief (relief at those decisions which have proven wise) go hand in hand.

regret & relief

a regret: going to my second choice of grad schools where my ex- was going to go simply because I was offered a teaching assistantship, as I later found out I spent four of the six semesters photocopying and holding office hours rather than actually teaching or helping with research. My first choice offered a full scholarship but no assistantship for the first semester, yet with a little patience a T.A. comes in following semesters for most, and if I had gone there I wouldn't have gotten back together with my ex- and gone through another couple of years in a relationship I knew deep down shouldn't have continued

a relief: I had reserved a ticket to Phuket and planned to spend Christmas through New Year's in one of those cheap huts right on the beach but - at the last possible moment - found out there was a last-minute opening in the CELTA program I had been told was full in Auckland and I changed my plans a mere two weeks beforehand, thereby missing the Tsunami disaster !!!! probably saved my life

a regret: signing on for a second year at this hagwon because a month after doing so my fridays-off three-day weekends were taken away when a korean english teacher left and wasn't ever replaced

a relief: getting a decent hagwon position both times, here and before on Geoje: getting paid on time and year-end bonuses, no office hassle, good classrooms, nice accommodations, perfect walking distance and appreciated environment

a regret or a relief, the jury is out: not getting into a romantic relationship during my five years here, avoiding disease, bad relations and potential pregnancy issues but also meaning lonely moments and a growing comfort with being by myself that could threaten plans of marriage and childrearing; relief will come with having waited for the right woman to marry and have kids with and regret will accompany ending up in a bad relationship or alone with the idea that I've missed the boat

a regret and a relief: not getting a car or bike in Korea is a relief when i hear of the accidents that happen and when i consider the many weekend drives i've taken with locals in their cars, getting to know them, their culture and having great day outings in the process; a regret when i think of the many days i've wanted to throw a tent in the back of a vehicle and head to places off the easy transit routes, or simply strike out impulsively on saturday mornings, and the hassles of shopping in nearby cities and carrying heavy bags back by bus and train.

LateBloomer · Joined: 06 May 2006

Not appreciating what I had when I had it.

Staying too long in unhealthy relationships.

Not dealing with childhood issues earlier in life.

Being afraid to "go for it" several times. "It" was a variety of things.

Not taking better care of my health--that saying "if I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself".....is ringing true.

Choosing another profession over teaching when I was younger.

Not travelling more.

littlelisa · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

I have no regrets.

MarionG · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

Not going after what I most wanted in life, when I was young enough to find it...

Rae · Joined: 10 Oct 2007

I try to live a life with no regrets, but I have a few:

Not going with the boy whom I had the biggest crush on for the majority of my college years for someone whom I thought was "better". The guy was Korean (I'm not), the only child, and his parents knew about me. I didn't care enough about the Korean culture back then to understand that significance.

Declining admission to a top ranking university to be closer to home.

That's basically about it. Sure I could have made better decisions here and there but with everything else, I learned from. So it's 2 out of 5. I'm hoping it never reaches 5.