“The Toilet Paper Rush”: 50 Stories Parents Just Can’t Wait To Tell Their Kids When They Grow Up

We asked Wellman about how someone who wishes to live meaningfully can move past their fear of being judged by others if they fail. "One of the best ways to get motivated to take action on a dream—whether it’s minute or magnanimous—is to play the regret game. Fast-forward to your eventual deathbed… Would you regret not taking action on that dream? Or would you regret that you did take action and maybe it didn’t work out?” she told Bored Panda via email.

According to Wellman, research clearly shows that most people regret the paths they didn’t take rather than the mistakes they made along the way. "Reframing mistakes (that may or may not be ripe for judgment) as evidence of a life well lived can also be motivating. Giving a goal a try and coming close usually feels better than the wistfulness of not trying at all."

Wellman pointed out that we shouldn't be so concerned with other people judging us. The reality is that they don't harshly judge us for the mistakes we make. "If anything, they deep down feel a bit of envy for not taking risks themselves. Most of us can live with that kind of judgment!” she said.

Something to keep in mind is that when we take action to reach our dreams, we can set a good example for others. Including our kids. We're leading by example! "Demonstrating that we are willing to go for it, willing to take a risk and really participate in life, can be a really helpful intrinsic motivational spark plug for ourselves that also teaches valuable lessons to those we are mentoring. Dream it and do it… rather than letting dreams become dormant intentions," Wellman told Bored Panda.

The founder of 'Four Thousand Mondays' shared a few thoughts with us on dealing with regret. "It is sometimes helpful to reflect on the research that regrets of commission—the things we did and wished we hadn’t—tend to haunt us less over time than the regrets of omission—the things we wish we had taken action on but didn’t," she said.

"If we are ruminating about bad choices from the past, it’s helpful to imagine the decision flowing like water under a bridge and letting it go. The more we focus on taking purposeful, intentional action toward goals that currently matter, it can alleviate some of the angst about the mistakes we have made in the past. Preventing a 'coulda shoulda woulda' regret can be the balm we need to forgive ourselves for regrets that happened in the past."

You'll find some more in-depth insights about living to the fullest on the 'Four Thousand Mondays' site, as well as in the book 'You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets.'

You'll only have tons of interesting stories to tell your kids if you live an energetic and full life. Most of us probably want to live interesting and meaningful lives full of awesome experiences that we can then regale everyone with. But this often won’t happen unless you purposefully pursue this sort of lifestyle. If you don’t make the time to do what you love now, putting it off till tomorrow or next week or next year won’t help.

Let’s be real: life often gets in the way of, well, enjoying life. From work and school to parenting and chores, we’ve got tons of responsibilities on our shoulders. It’s often hard to find the time or the energy to do something fresh and interesting when you’re exhausted, crave sleep, and want a moment’s peace.

So, all tired from your adult responsibilities, you decide to lie on the couch and flick to a random cozy TV show instead of going out to search for little adventures. It’s natural to want rest. But if being a couch potato has become a habit, don’t be surprised to find life passing you by. In the end, you’ll end up reading and hearing other people’s cool stories rather than sharing those of your own.

If you’re chronically tired, burned out from work, or constantly anxious, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor or therapist. They might be able to give an outsider’s perspective on what you can change in your life to have more energy and focus.

Usually, it’s the small things that we do every day that determine what kind of life we have. Someone who goes out of their way to exercise even a little bit every day is likely going to be more energetic than someone who eats junk food and barely moves all day.

In a similar vein, someone who steps out of their comfort zone to meet new people is bound to have far more intriguing experiences than a person who works at home and spends all of their free time glued to their screens. These small habits add up very quickly over time, whether to our benefit or detriment.

Telling someone to seize the day is very easy, but putting it into practice is tough! What you need to do is develop a growth-oriented mindset. That means getting into the habit of seizing opportunities as they come along. It also means putting yourself in situations where you can enjoy something exciting or new more often.

This probably won’t happen overnight. You’ll change your lifestyle step by step. However, this incremental change won’t happen at all if you’re not willing to alter your current routine in any way. So, if you’re not living your ideal life, ask yourself what is one thing you could change today to get closer to it. Maybe that way you’ll have some interesting stories of your own to tell in the near future.

What stories can you not wait to tell your kids when they're just a bit older, dear Pandas? What do you do to live a meaningful and purposeful life? Tell us all about it in the comments.