Page 80 - PowerE-L05-E

Lesson 20

Regret

What is regret? Regret comes from the Middle

English word, regretten, meaning to lament, and from

the Old French regreter, meaning to weep. Regret is
a sense of loss, dissatisfaction or distress for some-

one or something gone, a feeling of sorrow and dis-
appointment about something that one wishes could

have been done differently. Regret is feeling sorry, remorseful, and sometimes
guilty for an act of commission or omission which you wish did not happen. A

person who lives with regret remembers things with a feeling of loss and sor-

row, speculating what could have been if things were done differently. Things
we regret In our lives, there are a lot of things we are bound to regret. A missed

opportunity, a bad choice or decision, hurting words you uttered, unexpressed
feeling, unfulfilled promises and things you did not do. When we look back at

the past, we see in a clearer light the things we have done wrong, the things we
have missed. It is normal to feel disappointed over how you handled past love

relationships, how unkind and unfair you treated your friends and family, how
hypertensive and indifferent you reacted to waiters, cashiers, parking atten-

dants, and even your domestic helpers. Feelings of regret are normal. Being
remorseful for your mistakes and realizing that there actually was a better way

of doing them is good sign that you are learning from your experiences.

Comprehension

1. What are the examples of regret given in the article?
2. What is regret?

Questions

1. Can you give me some tips on how to avoid regret?
2. What do you do about regrets?
3. Can you tell me the biggest regret that you have?

Vocabulary & Expressions
lament: to feel or express sorrow or regret
weep: to express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears
distress: great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering
omission: something left out, not done, or neglected
speculating: to engage in thought or reflection; meditate
hypertensive: characterized by or causing high blood pressure
remorseful: feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses.

78