How to not regret your life (easy actually)

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I'm 21, and I think about time more than anyone my age should.

Not because I'm morbid.

But because I've seen how fast it disappears.

Most people realize life is short at 40, 50, 60. By then, half the game is over.

The Question That Changes Everything

Every Sunday, I ask myself:

"What would I regret not doing if I only had one year left?"

Not failing at. Not losing money on. Not doing at all.

My list always includes:

• Not building something meaningful

• Playing it safe with my message

• Choosing comfort over growth

• Waiting for "perfect" instead of starting messy

• Living for tomorrow instead of today

That list is why Elevenstoic exists. Why I create every day. Why I chose building over traditional paths.

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The Math Nobody Wants to See

We get roughly 700,000 hours of life.

By 21, I've used 184,000.

By 35, you've used 307,000.

By 50, you've used 438,000.

Every hour waiting is one you don't get back. Every "next year" is 8,760 hours gone.

This isn't about creating anxiety. It's about creating urgency for what matters.

The Memory Test

Try this:

Think about the last 5 years. What do you actually remember?

Probably:

• A few peak moments

• Some real conversations

• Maybe a breakthrough or achievement

• The times you did something that scared you

Now realize: 5 years = 43,800 hours. You remember maybe 100 of them.

The rest? Gone. Forgotten. Wasted on comfort.

What Makes Life Memorable

After analyzing my most vivid memories, I found patterns:

Memorable moments always involve:

1. Creation over consumption

2. Discomfort over comfort

3. Beauty or meaning over convenience

This is why I'm obsessed with aesthetics. Not vanity. But because beauty makes moments worth remembering.

It's why I push cinematic quality. Not perfectionism. But because extraordinary stands out in memory.

The Regret Prevention System

Every Sunday:

1. Write 5 things you'd regret not doing

2. Pick the scariest one

3. Take one action toward it this week

4. Document it (photo, video, journal)

5. Repeat until it's done

This system built my 1M+ following. Not talent. Not luck. Just consistent action against potential regret.

Your Choice This Week

You can optimize for comfort:

• Safe choices

• Easy entertainment

• Predictable outcomes

• Forgettable days

Or optimize for memory:

• Scary starts

• Beautiful creations

• Meaningful risks

• Unforgettable moments

The comfortable path leads to regret. The uncomfortable path leads to stories.

Just One Life

That's my philosophy. Not "YOLO" party nonsense.

But a daily reminder: This is it. Your one shot. No rehearsals. No restarts.

Every day you wait is one less day you have. Every "someday" is a today you surrendered.

Make it memorable. Not comfortable.

Richard Founder, Elevenstoic

P.S. If building something beautiful and meaningful is on your "regret prevention" list, I put everything I know into Cinematic Studio. It's how I went from overthinking to 1M+ followers and over $120k/y. But even without it – start creating. Memorable lives are built one uncomfortable decision at a time.