Little or no regrets.

One of my favourite quotes is ‘Je ne regrette rien’, which is French for ‘I regret nothing’.

It’s almost a calming experience to sit and decide that in life, despite all obstacles faced, you regret nothing.

Hmm.

Recently I listened to a song that I hadn’t heard in years, ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’ by British singer Beverly Knight, and it got me thinking about if I wish I had done certain things when I lived in England over ten years ago.

Five things came to mind:

1. I wish I had invested in buying classic/better quality clothes instead of being distracted by items on sale.
2. I wish I had enjoyed the experience of daily walks more instead of seeing them as a necessity. I hardly walk long distances in Abuja because of generally not feeling safe and the sweltering heat.
3. I wish I had been more adventurous with food. Once I discovered where to buy Nigerian ingredients and located the nearest Chinese food takeout place, I was sorted. I didn’t embrace other food experiences that I had at my disposal.
4. I wish I had embraced some basic perks of living in the UK. For instance, there were numerous parks in Coventry where I lived that were beautiful in summertime where one could just sit and relax, but I always said ‘I’ll do this one day’, and I never did. I also wish I had visited more libraries and museums, which generally had free or affordable entry fees.
5. I wish I had travelled more around Englad. I had been obsessed with saving money for my inevitable return to Nigeria, but I wish that once in a while, I had treated myself to weekend trips to seaside locations. I did visit a number of places (Birmingham, London, Warwick, Watford, Liverpool, Manchester, Leamignton Spa, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Milton Keynes) but I could have gone to so many other parts of England and the UK.

I hope you’re enjoying your week and doing what you want to do, with little or no regrets.

Written by
Ivie M. Eke 2021.