Time Well Spent

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Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#1
Aug 13, 2014
27,729
9,659
113
#1
Old saying: "Nobody lies on his deathbed wishing he had spent more time at the office."

What DO people wish they had spent more time doing? I started thinking about this a while ago.

I've never heard anybody say "I wish I'd spent more time partying." I've never heard anybody regret not spending more time drinking. Nobody I know of has ever said "I wish I'd spent more time at an amusement park" or "I wish I had played more video games." Well... there are some nerds I know who might say that last one when they get old, but I've never heard it yet.

Everything I can think of that we try so hard to get to amuse ourselves, all of it is things I never hear old people saying they wish they had done more of.

So... what DO people wish they had done more of?

Also, why do we not do it when we can? Do we not realize we want to do those things until it's too late to do them?

I know, this is a very open question with no answers. Yet. I'm hoping somebody will have some thoughts that might lead to good answers. It has been puzzling me for some time.
 
cinder

cinder

Senior Member
#2
Mar 26, 2014
4,436
2,423
113
#2
Lynx said:
Old saying: "Nobody lies on his deathbed wishing he had spent more time at the office."

What DO people wish they had spent more time doing? I started thinking about this a while ago.

I've never heard anybody say "I wish I'd spent more time partying." I've never heard anybody regret not spending more time drinking. Nobody I know of has ever said "I wish I'd spent more time at an amusement park" or "I wish I had played more video games." Well... there are some nerds I know who might say that last one when they get old, but I've never heard it yet.

Everything I can think of that we try so hard to get to amuse ourselves, all of it is things I never hear old people saying they wish they had done more of.

So... what DO people wish they had done more of?

Also, why do we not do it when we can? Do we not realize we want to do those things until it's too late to do them?

I know, this is a very open question with no answers. Yet. I'm hoping somebody will have some thoughts that might lead to good answers. It has been puzzling me for some time.
Click to expand...
For me right now (and as far as I know pretty far from my deathbed), a lot of it comes down to when it's time to do the whatever; it looks like it's going to take energy or knowledge I don't have or something else seems more urgent. But mostly when it comes down to it, the important things usually look like a lot of hassle to get done so while our intentions are good to do them; we wait for a more opportune moment or better circumstances until we're out of both moments and circumstances are unlikely to get better.
 
Jilly81

Jilly81

Senior Member
#3
Jan 16, 2011
2,367
138
63
#3
I have never heard of anyone lamenting anything other than lack of time spent with God or family (or ministry, such as not reaching more people than he or she did while he/she had the chance).
I think that the reason we don't do the things we know that we should is our sin nature, and it seems to be that the closer we get to Jesus, the easier it is to do the right thing.

Good thread!
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#4
Aug 13, 2014
27,729
9,659
113
#4
cinder said:
For me right now (and as far as I know pretty far from my deathbed), a lot of it comes down to when it's time to do the whatever; it looks like it's going to take energy or knowledge I don't have or something else seems more urgent. But mostly when it comes down to it, the important things usually look like a lot of hassle to get done so while our intentions are good to do them; we wait for a more opportune moment or better circumstances until we're out of both moments and circumstances are unlikely to get better.
Click to expand...
Aaaaaand... that reminds me of an xkcd comic.




Also cinder that's a pretty accurate observation. Or at least it fits with what I have seen.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#5
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
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#5
life's/world's illusions mis-direct us and our faulty perceptions agree!!!

on the other hand, when we are serving Jesus Christ, there ain't no regrets...
:):)
 
calibob

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
#6
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,516
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#6
Riding rollercoasters. I should have paid attention in school when I was young. I wish I knew some Solid Christians before I reached voting age.
 
laughingheart

laughingheart

Senior Member
#7
Sep 21, 2016
1,709
1,669
113
#7
A contented life comes when your time usage and values line up.
 
JesusLives

JesusLives

Senior Member
#8
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
#8
Lynx said:
Old saying: "Nobody lies on his deathbed wishing he had spent more time at the office."

What DO people wish they had spent more time doing? I started thinking about this a while ago.

I've never heard anybody say "I wish I'd spent more time partying." I've never heard anybody regret not spending more time drinking. Nobody I know of has ever said "I wish I'd spent more time at an amusement park" or "I wish I had played more video games." Well... there are some nerds I know who might say that last one when they get old, but I've never heard it yet.

Everything I can think of that we try so hard to get to amuse ourselves, all of it is things I never hear old people saying they wish they had done more of.

So... what DO people wish they had done more of?

Also, why do we not do it when we can? Do we not realize we want to do those things until it's too late to do them?

I know, this is a very open question with no answers. Yet. I'm hoping somebody will have some thoughts that might lead to good answers. It has been puzzling me for some time.
Click to expand...
Wish I had not gotten married at age 17... not that I had kids and was tied down right away but that I had gone to college instead.

I wish I had gotten a better education when I was younger....That I had picked an area for a career where I was educated for it.

I also wish I had traveled and gotten all 50 states in while I was younger... I still need 12 I did do Hawaii and it was a wonderful trip as it was a family wedding and we got to share the experience. I was getting ready to do an Alaskan cruise but met and married Tourist instead. I don't regret that but I do wish I had gotten Alaska in when my walking health was better. Not sure that I will get the last 12 states in but I will give it a go as long as I am still breathing.
 
Krumbeard

Krumbeard

Well-known member
#9
Apr 15, 2019
1,140
775
113
#9
I should spend less time eating and more time walking/running.
I should spend less time online and more time fixing up my house.
And I have been convicted the last several months about spending more time with my kids, as I only have their childhood once. That is a thing that goes by so quickly and is easy to be distracted from by so many other "important" things.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#10
Mar 13, 2014
42,665
17,119
113
69
Tennessee
#10
JesusLives said:
Wish I had not gotten married at age 17... not that I had kids and was tied down right away but that I had gone to college instead.

I wish I had gotten a better education when I was younger....That I had picked an area for a career where I was educated for it.

I also wish I had traveled and gotten all 50 states in while I was younger... I still need 12 I did do Hawaii and it was a wonderful trip as it was a family wedding and we got to share the experience. I was getting ready to do an Alaskan cruise but met and married Tourist instead. I don't regret that but I do wish I had gotten Alaska in when my walking health was better. Not sure that I will get the last 12 states in but I will give it a go as long as I am still breathing.
Click to expand...
You are my traveling companion in life. We will eventually get to where we need to be.
 
H

Hamarr

Guest
#11
#11
Things like depression help me catalog lots of regrets. Though, I’m sure on my deathbed I’ll find myself thinking “I wish I spent more time surfing you tube endlessly while laying on the couch”.
 
Dino246

Dino246

Senior Member
#12
Jun 30, 2015
25,614
13,863
113
#12
I don't usually do "wish" scenarios, because I consider them about as worthwhile as "what if" statements.

That said, I wish I had spent more time encouraging my kids.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#13
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
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#13
after 'conversion', Jesus leads us on a 'brand new journey' that (releases) us from our 'old-nature',
and directs our focus ONLY on our future that He has designed and 'called us to -
old is old and new is new' - the roads that we travel are where our Saviour leads us,
it's not a wishful road', it's a 'directed-road'...

if we still find ourselves remaining in our 'old-man-wishful-ego-habits, then we surely are NOT
taking God's direction for us, in fact, we are 'directing ourselves'...
 
Lunar_Eagle403

Lunar_Eagle403

Member
#14
Oct 7, 2019
49
53
18
24
#14
I wish I had spent more time getting to know some of the people and friends I had around me years ago that I haven't seen in ages. Not just hanging out around them in a friendly way, but actually getting to know their interests and passions and what they cared about and such.
 
G00WZ

G00WZ

Senior Member
#15
May 16, 2014
1,318
453
83
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#15
I believe that time is always well spent, it is just a matter of being able to rest in the decisions made. Not everyone is going to agree with a person about how they spend their time, but as long as they feel good about it and can rest in it, it is time well spent. Not everyone's aspect of life or life choices is for everyone's understanding.

To me being satisfied is what life is about. Self doubt, regret,shame, guilt,indecisiveness, and being in constant states of unrest about choices i made, or living in the shadow of opinions of others is not the life i choose to walk out.

Ultimately i believe that is what people are chasing is to be happy, satisfied and to be unburdened. Looking back regretfully on a life lived, or spending it chasing temporal things, the simple understanding of being satisfied with what they have done, and being able to rest in it is neglected or forgotten.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#16
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
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#16
no one in 'the world' can ever truly be satisfied on a Godly plane -
they may think that this is attainable, but unfortunately it is NOT -
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#18
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,321
113
33
Arizona
#18
I would imagine that a lot of people are sad that they didn't spend more time with family. Kinda being more willing to invest in others.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#19
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
113
#19
so true AS, and invest and waste their precious time in vain-worldly persuits...
 
CharliRenee

CharliRenee

Member
Staff member
#20
Nov 4, 2014
6,693
7,177
113
#20
Heavy barrrooo alert...

Stumbling blocks that caused much wasted time.

I wish I had learned much earlier the difference between loving ppl and pleasing ppl. We can love every one but it is impossible to please anyone all the time. The balance between seeking to grow and to not constantly beat myself up. The place of considering others more inportant without seeing myself as insignificant.

When I really started loving Him in spite of myself, He taught me to love ppl where they are and to do the same with myself, to love regardless the return, without expectation but to let go of things not meant for me.

Well, truth is...I am finally getting there.

So yeah, I could of avoided lots of wasted time and poor choices made had I not spent so much time wrapped up in self absorption and insecurity.

Ugh, just think of the quality love and laughter to be had when we let go and get out of our own way.
 
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