Perhaps some of you remember the show 30 Something  from the 80s, I think.  A line from the one episode of the series that I watched continues to echo in my head: “I just wanted to regret something I had done rather than regret something I hadn’t done.” In this particular episode, a woman who had cheated on her husband sexually said it. But I have found it helpful to apply this concept to all sorts of situations in my life.

Hypothetical regret is what this 30-something woman was talking about, and indeed it is the most debilitating  kind for me. If I had to choose between the two kinds, I’d choose to struggle with the real regret–it’s easier to deal with and possibly ends. Hypothetical regret could stick around forever. So I guess the choice is something to ponder. Sleeping with someone for the heck of it is pretty drastic though.