Does one always feel like they didn't quite experience everything in life?

[longskate88]

After a long day of watch shopping, studying for school, and reading the "going out alone" thread, I have this feeling like I'm doing it all wrong.

Does everyone know the feeling, where you look back and go "shoot, I should have done this, this, etc...?" Reminds me of this quote, the last part especially:

"Just remember, the same as a spectacular Vogue magazine, remember that no matter how close you follow the jumps: Continued on page whatever. No matter how careful you are, there's going to be the sense you missed something, the collapsed feeling under your skin that you didn't experience it all. There's that fallen heart feeling that you rushed right through the moments where you should've been paying attention. Well, get used to that feeling. That's how your whole life will feel some day. This is all practice. None of this matters. We're just warming up."

For some reason, I always revert back to the things I do alone vs. calling up people and seeing if they want to do something...maybe I just don't see the point in hanging out unless you have something new or interesting planned ahead of time. One more year of college, and that fallen heart feeling is all too familiar.

 

[binge]

Opportunity cost is a *****.

 

[Flambeur]

It's important to try and experience things, and it's also important to understand that you will never have the time, energy, or resources to experience everything out there. Choose what you do wisely. Time is one thing we have absolutely no control over. Ask any old man what he wouldn't give to be young again.

 

[longskate88]

Originally Posted by Flambeur

It's important to try and experience things, and it's also important to understand that you will never have the time, energy, or resources to experience everything out there. Choose what you do wisely. Time is one thing we have absolutely no control over. Ask any old man what he wouldn't give to be young again.

That's the feeling, god that's going to hurt one day

 

[Eason]

Whodini said something a while back about wishing he treated relationships in college more like social experiments. "Give me a ** or I will never talk to you again." etc. I agree.

 

[longskate88]

Originally Posted by Eason

Whodini said something a while back about wishing he treated relationships in college more like social experiments. "Give me a ** or I will never talk to you again." etc. I agree.

I think part of it is I've been doing the whole online dating thing through college. It's worked well and been fun, mind you, but I think I should be saving that for AFTER college, when I'll actually have to use it if I want to meet new people.

It's the whole sitting on the computer talking to a girl online, while there's a cute girl sitting right next to you in real life who might want to talk thing.

 

[West24]

Originally Posted by longskate88

I think part of it is I've been doing the whole online dating thing through college. It's worked well and been fun, mind you, but I think I should be saving that for AFTER college, when I'll actually have to use it if I want to meet new people.

It's the whole sitting on the computer talking to a girl online, while there's a cute girl sitting right next to you in real life who might want to talk thing.

if youre in college and do a lot of online dating....im pretty sure the cute girl sitting next to you doesnt want to talk.

 

[Eason]

West24, I mish you

 

[c3cubed]

Originally Posted by binge

Opportunity cost is a *****.

That, well said, is a mouthful.

 

[longskate88]

Originally Posted by West24

if youre in college and do a lot of online dating....im pretty sure the cute girl sitting next to you doesnt want to talk.

Thanks

. I don't live on campus, but when I am there I tend to ignore people. I could definitely do more talking to people and aksing my friends if they want to hang out after class, etc. That's my goal at least.

 

[Svenn]

Originally Posted by longskate88

After a long day of watch shopping, studying for school, and reading the "going out alone" thread, I have this feeling like I'm doing it all wrong.

Does everyone know the feeling, where you look back and go "shoot, I should have done this, this, etc...?"
I think this is mostly just a young person's sentiment... once one gets a family such philosophical thoughts are eclipsed by the petty daily concerns of chores and work. It is a pity, since I view this as hiding from reality. OP, I have this feeling, of whether I'm wasting my life or not, quite profoundly- it haunts me daily (I'm not being sarcastic). If you're looking for a quick escape, indeed getting a family will squash those ruminations, and society will call you "selfless" for not thinking about yourself. I don't agree, forgetting oneself in one's family or job is the height of selfishness.

Getting to the original feeling you mentioned, I generally undulate between two solutions- one is to make as much money as possible in my career as soon as I graduate and then go insane on vacations around the world, sleeping with as many women as possible whilst listening to exotic trance beats... or going on some grand Quixotan misadventures through north africa... again, in search of romance. I'm exaggerating, but I have actually been on a couple 'round-the-world' trips and it actually is possible, in places like dusk on the Lao/Cambodian border, to find some sublime states formerly thought impossible in this bleak life. The other solution is to overcome the concept of time itself, which is primarily the cause of this whole dilemma from the start (i.e. "losing" time). Time is a construct of the mind which can pass if one ceases motor control over consciousness... and Buddha has outlined thoroughly that path.

I would be very interested to hear anyone else's ideas.

 

[West24]

Originally Posted by Eason

West24, I mish you

 

[binge]

To sum it all up, I must say that I regret nothing.

 

[rnoldh]

I feel this way quite often.

I'm older than most here, I'm 60.

My Father died in 1969 and I made him a promise which I haven't kept. I'm not dead yet and I'm going to renew my efforts and try to fulfill that promise.

In addition, I went to Rice U. from 1967-1971. I had the most fantastic opportunities available to anyone. I feel that I missed out on those opportunities.

At this point in my life my priorities have changed.

I recently wrote this:

It reminded me of dreams. There are kids right now with tough backgrounds and parents. And some of those kids are dreaming. Perhaps of becoming another Bill Gates or Larry Ellison. I'll be gone but I predict it will happen for a few kids. It might be in India or China but it will happen.

In the time I have left, I'm going to pursue some dreams.

BTW: If you are young and in college, you have lots of time. Don't waste it.

 

[ChicagoRon]

If you didn't feel that way.. you would die... that's the motivation to keep on living another day so you can see and experience one more new thing.