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Life is full of regrets. Some are small—like spilling coffee on a nice shirt—and some are just spectacularly, irreversibly terrible. And a lot of the time, they’re also unavoidable, when all you can do is step back, accept what happened, and try to move on without letting it take over your mind.
So, to reassure you that you’re not alone in these “wish I hadn’t” experiences, we put together a gallery of moments people would love to erase from their memory. Whether earned or purely accidental, yikes!
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#1
I Love It When We Rise Up Together To Destroy The Patriarchy ✊
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#2
Tells The Potential Employee To Find Another Job If They Don’t Like His Terms. Is Shocked When She Agrees To Do Just That
Interestingly, from a quantitative perspective, you could make the case that people are more likely to regret the things they didn’t do than the things they have done.
For example, according to a survey of 2,000 adults in the United States, the regrets people beat themselves up about the most include “not speaking up” (40%), “not visiting family or friends enough” (36%), and “not pursuing their dreams” (35%).
#4
The Moment This Jogger Realized He Stumbled Into My Friends’ Engagement Photo
Optimus Octopus 2 days ago
Nobody cares about your perfect engagement photo unless it’s comedy gold like this.
#5
My Indoor Cat’s First Time Experiencing Heights & He Instantly Regretted It 😂
In their lifetime, Americans average three missed chances to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip, four lost opportunities to ask their crush out, and six instances of not having the perfect comeback in an argument.
On the flip side, the top actions Americans regret doing include “spending money or purchasing something” (49%), “fighting with friends or family” (43%), and “making an unnecessary comment” (36%).
#6
“Plumber Returns To Re-Clog Pipe After Restaurant Refuses To Pay Bill”
#7
Justin’s Appointment
#8
Self Burn
#9
Forever Alone
In total, Americans also regret sending an average of five angry text messages and going through two breakups.
In fact, almost one-third (32%) of Baby Boomers have a regret that spans three decades and still crosses their minds an average of three times per month.
Millennials’ oldest regret is only about 11 years old, and they report fretting about it almost once per week—more than any other generation.
#10
He Had No Idea What To Expect
Rick Murray 2 days ago
My cat chasing a duck and having immediate sudden regret on discovering the shiny ground was not in fact ground at all. Duck was unruffled, and possibly even amused.
#11
This Picture Was Taken The Moment Before I Fell Into The Splits, Thinking That I Could Ride These Like Rollerblades
#12
Layoff Skilled Workers Hurts Company?
#13
This Man Drove 1,000+ Miles To Hoard And Scalp Supplies, But Now He Can't Find Buyers. Boo-Hoo
The survey also revealed that Americans are almost twice as likely to make bad decisions at night (41%) as they are in the morning (22%).
Nighttime decisions such as “not going to bed at a decent time” (47%), “eating too many snacks or too much food” (36%), and “arguing with a loved one” (35%) are the most likely to bother them the next morning.
For Gen Zers, however, the most common regrets are “failing to do their nighttime routine” (29%) and “forgetting to turn on their alarm” (22%).
#14
They Didn't See That Coming
#15
Don’t Worry, He’s Fine
#16
They Took The Dog Swimming For The First Time
#17
Instant Regret
The good thing is that almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents believe that their decision-making has gotten better as they’ve gotten older. And that is one of its benefits—teaching.
“Regret informs us of a failure to live up to our ideals, over and above the mistakes we have made,” said clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst Dr. Mary Lamia. “Despite how uncomfortable regrets and unfinished business may feel, they represent internal feedback about our past behavior. The cognitive process, known as counterfactual thinking, has to do with our assessment of an outcome compared to what would have been gained or lost had we made a different decision.
“We mentally simulate other outcomes of past events by considering hypothetical alternatives. Thus, regret may represent an important aspect of our capacity to review our decisions or to assess our behaviors retrospectively. Alternatively, it may exemplify our inclination to pursue counterfactual information for its own sake. Although looking back may not always influence future behavior, it can be a learning experience.”
#18
This Is Coco. He Was Banned From Three Groomers For Aggression. He Is Now Under House Arrest (I Have To Shave Him Myself)
#19
Making A Frog Friend
#21
Instant Regret
The key is to review the past without ruminating about the negatives too much because, at a certain point, it can become a dangerous self-enforcing loop. “The more times we run down the same path filled with negative emotion, the more familiar, available, and accessible it may become,” Lamia added.
“Emotions make us care in both positive and negative ways; we care when we are interested or excited and when we are guilty or ashamed. Regret is not indifferent. Thus, our regrets may preserve an emotional attachment to someone or something we have cherished and lost, or to someone or something that we should have avoided in the first place.”
#23
Missing Your Husband's Singing For Months Because You Can't Say Sorry
#24
My Friend's Dog Decided To Join The Fun Of A Slip And Slide, Instant Regret
#25
I Was 13 And We Decided To See Who Could Jump The Farthest Off The Swing. This Was The Moment Before I Hit A Pole At The Playground
#26
Posing On A Flaming Chair For A Cool Photo
#27
“Don’t Look At The Sun!” *proceeds To Look At The Sun*
#28
Can I Pet Him? -Sure, He’s Friendly-(Doggo Starts Growling Mid Picture)
#29
When You Finish Work At 5 But You’re Storming The Capitol Building At 6
#30
Single Dad Wanting To Absolutely Nail It For Christmas This Year, So I Saved Up And Bought My 3yo Daughter The Largest Dollhouse I Could Find. I See Now That I Definitely Veered Out Of My Lane When I Made This Decision. Pray For Me Please LOL
#31
Trying To Take A Picture Posing With The Birds
Lorenzo 2 days ago
This appears to be Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I live. There's one gate of the old city where Chinese tourists love to feed the pigeons, because it was in a rom-com years ago. It's illegal, both to feed the birds and to sell bird food. It's a persistent public health problem. Officials can't arrest them fast enough.
#32
You're Not A Teenager. You're 24
Context for people out of the loop: this is Johnny Somali, a streamer who's known for his repeated disrespectful behaviours in multiple countries. His behaviour includes yelling Hiroshima Nagasaki on Japanese public trains, harassing high school girls, sexually harassing a female police officer in Israel, lap dancing on a WW2 comfort woman statue in South Korea, and many many more. He was previously kicked out of Japan and Israel for his misdemeanors. He was also banned from Kick and Twitch and now streams on Rumble. He's currently arrested in South Korea for possession [of illegal substances] and is facing jail time and is also literally being hunted down by Koreans. He also offered a similar apology to Japan before, only to immediately start insulting the country as soon as he's out of the country.
#35
“I Eat Nothing But Raw Meat Raw Milk And Eggs, Why Am I Having Health Problems?”
#36
Classic Oh No Consequences Sunday: Lady Orders Sushi Rolls That Were Not On Sale & Gets Angry She Can’t Return Them For A Refund
#37
Mis-Snakes Were Made
2WheelTravlr 2 days ago
Not even at the joint and a nice clean cut. Must have used a band saw. And ignorance. And probably alcohol.
#38
Another “Unschooling” Success Story
#39
"Now They Are Infected!"
Linda Conaghan 2 days ago
I had to google this to see if it was true "People sometimes drop urine in their eyes due to misguided beliefs that it acts as a natural, "detoxifying" remedy for various ocular issues, despite significant medical warnings that this practice is dangerous."
#40
Ignore Fines For Breaking Traffic Laws And There Are Consequences?!
#41
My Mom Made A Mistake While Cutting My Hair
Karl der Große 2 days ago
This is metal, too. Would you consider cutting off your finger to complete the look?
#43
Moves To Rainforest, Complains That It Rains Too Much
Sally Moen 2 days ago
Only a part of Washington state is a rain forest. If you love sunshine, move to the little town of Sequim (pronounced squim) where they get an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. And it's very green, lots of trees, close to Forks. I lived in Grays Harbor County out on the ocean coast in Washington, and there is an abundance of trees there, and it does rain a lot. Do not move to Hoquiam or Ocean Shores or Humptulips thinking it will be sunny in summer, chances are it won't be
Cpt. Christan "Panda Bombero" 1 day ago
You moved to the Olympic Peninsula, home of the Hoh Rainforest, the largest temperate rainforest in the United States of America. And, you are complaining about a little rain?
Kelly Scott 1 day ago
He doesn't specifically say he's in the rainforest but I guess it wouldn't matter. All of western Washington is like the rain forest except in the rain shadows.
Load More Replies... Tyranamar Suess 2 days ago
I don't think this one is so bad. As a fellow Californian lots of rain is shocking. You have no idea how bad it is for your mood unless you experience it.
Forrest Hobbs 1 day ago (edited)
Tyranamar Suess: to a NW European like myself, that's quite odd to hear. Short winter days, overcast all the time - now, *that* isn't good for the mood, but rain? Well, keeps things green and growing, which is much better for the soul than the parched landscape that's so common in the summer months in a lot of the southern US. It's rare that we have what I think of as 'lots' of rain here. Mind you, the last few months have been one of those periods. Well, we won't be having a water shortage this year - how's California off for its water supplies? 😉
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tw 72 1 day ago
Well, to be fair, most people don't realize there is a not-rainy side. (I'm familiar with both sides. Eastern WA is a mystery to lots of people in Western WA.)
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Tea Drinker 12 hours ago
There's actually a T-shirt that reads, "Seattlites don't tan, we rust". Did they do *any* research before moving?!
Kelly Scott 1 day ago
I'm not in the rainforest and it rains the same way where I'm at in Washington. I don't mind actual rain. What I do mind is the constant cloudiness and the constant drizzle. If it would just RAIN, I'd be fine. I'm a California person through and through and if I could afford it, I'd go back in a nanosecond. Washington is a beautiful state, but also a very, very depressing one if you're used to warmth and sunshine. What I can't believe is some people live under the TREES here. That's like having gloom all year round. You'd have to have lights on in the summer on the sunniest days. In winter I think it would be like being buried.
Forrest Hobbs 1 day ago
Kelly Scott: now tell me about the water supply. Also, living under trees strikes me as very sensible if you're living somewhere southern like the contiguous USA - keeps the worst of the heat off in the summer.
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Mahiera Etsuhae 5 hours ago
Born and raised in Western Washington. We definitely *do* have four seasons here. Wet; Really Wet; Windy & Wet; and Slightly Less Wet. I love this place. 💚🌧️
Load More Replies... #44
Student Failing To Take Responsibility For …
#45
Maybe Call Ahead With Such A Large Order??
#46
If It Can Happen In It Can Happen Anywhere!
#47
My Professor Regraded My Assignment And Now My Grade Is Even Lower
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