Sermon Illustrations
The Road Not Taken: What Do People Regret?
We all carry the memories of unspoken words and missed opportunities. The quiet echoes of regret and the whispered reminder that perfection is elusive and regret is a constant companion. So, it’s no surprise that a new poll finds that most Americans are concerned about the road not taken in their lives. And when it comes to regrets, people are more likely to dwell on things they didn’t do than the things they have done.
A survey of 2,000 U.S. adults, which found that only 11% of Americans don’t have any regrets. Among the regrets the majority of us have are the following:
Not speaking up (40%)
Not visiting family or friends enough (36%)
Not pursuing our dreams (35%)
The missed chances to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip
On the other hand, the top actions Americans regret doing include:
Spending money or purchasing something they later regret (49%)
Fighting with friends or family (43%)
Making an unnecessary comment (36%)
32% of baby boomers have a regret that spans three decades and still crosses their minds an average of three times per month. While the oldest regret millennials’ is only about 11 years-old, they fret about it on average almost once per week, more than any other generation.
Source:
Adapted from Staff, “The road not taken: What do Americans regret most in life?” StudyFinds (10-26-24)