- I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish I had let myself be happier.
- I wish I'd had the courage to express my true self.
- I wish I'd lived a life true to my dreams, instead of what others expected of me.
Jane McGonigal likes games (yes, even video games). Her TED Talk about the game that can give you 10 extra years of life reminds us that games can help us avoid the top five most common regrets. And I'm certainly not against games either. They can connect us with others, demonstrate what a love of learning looks like, give us a break, introduce us to advanced concepts, afford opportunities for enjoyable practice and expression, remind us how we should approach learning, and teach us real-world skills, among other things.
While it's true games can help us not have regrets, so can a myriad of other activities. Sharing great books comes to mind. Making cosplay costumes also does those things, as my wife mentioned last night. Fishing, tinkering, needlepoint, painting, laser tag, gardening, sports, and the like all help alleviate life regrets, especially when you do them with others.
No Regrets [I have no interest in bungee jumping; the picture is purely illustrative]
There is absolutely a place for work and routine, dedication and elbow grease. As homeschoolers, we can work hard and have opportunity to appropriate our free time to do amazing things.
Rather than regrets, may we revel in the joy and freedom we've been granted.
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester
