Daily Bite [Say]: Action vs. Regret via Lucille Ball

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”- Lucille Ball

Today would have been Lucille Ball’s 102nd birthday, and in her honor we’ve uncovered an inspiring piece of advice. This quote echos a similar meaning as the famed 1850 Tennyson quote: “It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all,” and in essence reminds us that you might as well chase after and do things that you even have a remote interest in, because a bigger regret would be doing just the opposite. We’ve put together five things you can do to make sure you don’t spend your time regretting, and instead spend it doing.

1. BE SPONTANEOUS: Do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do!

If you have the option to go canoeing, or go camping, or go to a music festival in Delaware, do it. You probably won’t remember staying home and watching TV for the weekend, but you will remember doing something out of the ordinary, even if you don’t have the greatest time!

2. BE INDEPENDENT: Don’t let your friends or family hold you back!

Do you really want to move to Los Angeles, but your friends think it’s a bad idea? Are you thinking about going to college in Montana but your boyfriend/girlfriend wouldn’t approve? You only have one life to live, make the decision you want to make, because at the end of the day, you are the one who will live with the consequence.

3. BE ADVENTUROUS: Explore, whether it be your street or your planet, poke your head around.

If you are financially able (or even if not), you should go out and explore. You might not always have the chance to eat, pray, and love in India, and walk the Great Wall, so why not do it today. If you’ve always wanted to go to Disney World, just go, as in drive to the airport right now (you could finish reading this article first…) and buy the first ticket to Florida!

4. BE COURAGEOUS: Don’t let fear hold you back!

In the upcoming (amazing) movie, We’re the Millers, Jason Sudeikis enlightens his son Will Poulter with the advice that whenever he wants to really do something, he counts to three and just does it. Whether it be kissing a girl/guy for the first time or punching someone in the face (okay, maybe not so much that one…), just do it. Once you miss your chance, you will be standing there thinking, “Why didn’t I just ask to dance with them?”

5. BE UNIQUE: Strive to be the only you that there is.

Don’t spend so much of your time obsessing over having the perfect nose, being the perfect weight, or eating the exact same calorie amount every day, you aren’t a clone, you are you. You want your legacy to be unique, because there is only one person who has the same frame of reference and life experiences that you have, and that person is reading this right now. After the womb no two people have the same experiences, not even twins, which make us unique by default. Don’t attempt to cover up what makes you who you are, embrace it.

What’s one thing in your life that you would regret if you didn’t do?

Feature Photo Credit: Fuelisms