We often mourn the loss of our promising youth in the twilight of our lives, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
在生命的暮年，我们总是会慨叹年华易逝，但这是可以避免的。
It is never too late to start making positive changes, but it is best to learn how to be honest with yourself and to understand what it takes for you to be happy and fulfilled while you are still young, so that you can avoid these terribly common regrets when you’ve come to the end of the line.
虽说做出积极改变永远都不会嫌迟，但最好还是在你年轻时学会怎样真诚地对待自己，了解怎样才能快乐和满足比较好。只有这样，才能在生命终结时避免以下这些常见的遗憾。
1.I was afraid to be myself, always fearful of what others might say
1.我怕展现真我，总是在意别人的说法
When we’re kids we constantly try to blend in and elevate our social status within our group,
我们小的时候总是喜欢和别人打成一片，在我们的圈子里提高自己的社会地位。
but as we grow we realize that everyone has their own unique little quirks, preferences, and tastes. It is important for us to find out what it is that we like, what makes us happy and what helps us to stay cheerful and motivated.
但是随着我们渐渐长大，我们意识到每一个人都有自己的小怪癖，喜好与品位。所以找到自己真正喜欢的、让自己高兴、欢欣鼓舞的事情是很重要的。
Try sitting down and being honest about what you look for in life, in a partner, in an outfit, in a great Saturday afternoon, in a career. Only then can you forget about what others think, and express your true self.
请坐下来，想想自己对生命、伴侣、衣着、周六下午以及事业的真正期盼是什么。唯此，你才能忘记别人的想法，活出真我。
2.I mistreated my body and spent half my life feeling sick and rundown
2.我不好好对待自己的身体，大半生都疾病缠身、疲惫不堪
Laziness, hedonism, lack of adequate motivation, thinking that you are indestructible when you are younger, and a lack of awareness about physical and mental health can all contribute to us having worn out, sickly, and tired-looking bodies before we even hit 40.
在年轻的时候，你懒惰、沉溺于享乐、缺乏足够的动力，觉得自己坚不可摧，对自己身心健康不够关注，这些都可能导致你40岁之前就疲惫不堪、疾病缠身、形容枯槁。
It’s easy to get “set in your ways,” so make sure that you start developing good habits early on. Work on losing that extra weight, eat healthier foods, train your muscles, and stretch to boost your metabolism and immune system, as well as strengthen the body, and do some meditation or have some relaxing alone time to allow your mind to recover.
坏习惯一旦形成很难改，所以你要尽早培养好习惯。运动减肥，吃健康食品，训练肌肉，努力加强你的新陈代谢和免疫系统，锻炼身体，做做冥想，独自放松都可以修复你的心灵。
3.I kept hanging out with people who were never true friends to me
3.我总是和一些对我并不真诚的“朋友”在一起
A lot of the entries on most people’s “friend lists” are actually acquaintances who are looking for some kind of quid pro quo arrangement, or even worse, emotional leeches and toxic people who are only looking out for themselves. Avoid the unnecessary drama at work and at home.
很多所谓的“朋友”其实只是想在你身上寻找补偿的点头之交，甚至是一些只想着自己的“情感蚂蟥”和恶人。无论在事业上还是在家庭里都要避免这些人。
Be realistic about this and hang out with those that actually listen to you, encourage you, try to help out without standing to gain anything, and just generally make you feel good. Cut all ties with anyone that’s dragging you back or causing you pain and worries all the time.
认识这一点，并和真正倾听你、鼓励你、无私地帮助你、或是让你愉悦的人在一起吧。而和那些拉你后腿，给你平添麻烦和痛苦的人绝交。
4．I missed out on great opportunities because I was too scared to put myself out there
4.我怕展现自己，所以总是错过好机会
The things we most regret in life are the things we didn’t do, like not working up the courage to walk up to that cute guy or girl, not asking your boss for a promotion, not taking a risk and investing in that interesting business venture, and so on.
我们最后悔的事就是我们不曾做过的事，比如没有勇气上前和某个可爱的男孩或女孩交谈，不敢要求老板给自己升职，不敢冒风险去投资某个有趣的创业型企业等等。
Sometimes, you’ve just got to learn from your mistakes, and learn that making a mistake or looking a bit foolish is not the end of the world, but the rewards you get for giving things a shot are quite incredible.
有时，你要从错误中吸取教训，知道犯错或者犯蠢并不意味着末日来临，勇于尝试会带来让人难以置信的回报。
5.I never devoted myself to mastering any fun or useful skills
5.我从来不花力气去掌握某种有趣或有用的技能。
People often lament the fact that they never really picked up a guitar and played for just 30 minutes a day, or took up martial arts, or learned their way around the kitchen.
人们总是遗憾自己从来没有每天花30分钟去弹弹吉他，学学武术或是厨艺。
It doesn’t take much to learn new things if you set your mind to it and stay consistent, and there are tons of great jobs that you can teach yourself how to do, so just jump into it and start learning something new right now.
学习新技能并不难，只要你用心并且持之以恒，你有很多东西可以自我学习，所以现在就行动起来，学习新技能吧！
6.I drifted apart from my friends and family and made strangers out of them
6.我疏远了我的朋友和家人
Spending time with family can sometimes be tiring, and if you’ve already got work, a partner, kids, and tons of little chores to think about, fitting friends into your schedule can be a nightmare.
和家人相处有时候很累，如果你已经有工作，有小孩，有很多杂务要考虑，那花时间和朋友相处简直就是个噩梦。
However, don’t allow yourself to become one of those people who realizes that they’ve alienated their friends over the years only after breaking up with a long-term partner, or one of the sad and lonely old folks who lives alone in a big house. Make room for friends and family at least once a week and keep those bonds strong.
但是，别让你变成那个和长期伴侣分手后才发现家人也已疏远的人，或者那个独自一人住在大房子里的悲伤又孤独的老人。每周至少和朋友家人交流一次，并加固你们之间的纽带。
7.I never admitted I was wrong and listened to honest advice
7.我从来不承认自己错了，不听忠言
Pride can sometimes get the best of you, but if you aren’t willing to admit your mistakes, say a few sorry’s now and then, and be open to criticism and helpful advice, you will live to regret it.
自尊有时会冲昏你的头脑，如果你不愿承认你的错误，不会道歉，接受批评和建议，那你会后悔的。
It’s all too often that we look back on a situation and realize that our friends were right, or that we could have really used someone’s help. Be open to suggestions and try to consult with several different people when you are not sure how to proceed.
当我们回顾某事时，我们总会意识到朋友们是对的，那种后悔没接受某人的帮助的情况太常见了。当你不知道如何进展下去时，请聆听建议，征求几个不同人的意见。
8.I spent a great deal of time hating the world for dealing me a bad hand of cards
8.我很多时候都抱怨老天对我不公
The easiest thing to do when faced with adversity is to ask “why me?” and start shaking your fist at the world, cursing all those who have wronged you.
遇到逆境时，我们很容易会问“为什么是我？”同时开始对世界抱有敌意，咒骂那些使我们陷入困境的人。
Of course, no matter how much someone contributed to your current predicament, it’s important to admit that you’ve also played a role in it – even sitting there and doing nothing or rolling over and letting someone kick you while you’re down is a conscious choice.
当然，不管别人使你陷入了多大的困境，你得承认你也有责任——在你自己沮丧的时候，哪怕是坐在那里什么都不干，或是听任别人打击你都是你自己做出的决定。
Take responsibility for your life, clench your teeth and take charge – no one is going to be able to solve all your problems for you, so you need give it everything you’ve got and face your problems with a cocky grin on your face.
对自己的生命负责，咬紧牙关，担起责任——没人能帮你解决一切问题，所以你要全力以赴笑对困难。
9.I never saw the world and experienced different cultures
9.我从来没有出去看看这个世界，感受不同的文化
One of the things that people find most excuses for is not traveling more. Of course, financial issues, hectic schedules, and various obligations may not allow you to spend ten years traveling the world,
对于没有经常旅游，人们总是能找出很多借口。比如，没足够的钱、没足够的时间，各种各样的任务都可能导致你不能花十年的时间环游全球。
but anyone can go camping, drive to another town, or find fairly cheap ways of traveling abroad. It’s all about being motivated to save up and make the time, and committing to leaving your home country at least once a year. You have to make travel one of your priorities instead of viewing it as a luxury.
但是谁都可以去野营，开车去另一个小镇，或者找一个相对便宜的方式出国旅行。只要你有动力，挤出时间，下定决心，在一年内离开你的国家根本不是问题。你必须把旅游当做你的要务之一，而不是一种奢侈。
10.I didn’t leave behind a legacy
10.我没有留下遗产
This one kind of covers several of the other points on this list.
这一点可以说概括上面所说某几点。
In order to truly say that you’ve lived a rich and full life, and have managed to leave a legacy, you must constantly work on improving yourself, be it becoming a better partner and parent, mastering a skill, achieving academic or athletic success, teaching and helping others reach their goals, or anything else you find a worthy goal.
要想充分地利用你的生命，努力地留下了一笔遗产，你就要不断地提高自己，不管是成为一个更好的伴侣或是家长，掌握一个技能，在学业还是体育上获得成功，教导、帮助他人达成目标，或是任何一个你觉得有价值目标。
Look deep within yourself and think about all your talents, passions, and skills, then try to work out what you could do to be remembered and respected by those that come after us.
审视自己，考虑考虑自己的才能、梦想、技能，然后努力做些让后人能记住你、尊敬你的事。
There is no definitive answer to the questions that we ask ourselves late at night when we are alone and fragile, and there is certainly no easy way of avoiding huge regrets at the end of our lives.
我们在夜深人静，孤独脆弱的时候提出的问题是没有一定的答案的，要想在生命终结时避免巨大遗憾也是不容易的。
However, these points, difficult as they may be to put into action, will help you live a better life. It doesn’t matter if someone else finds it boring, vain, or needlessly adventurous, it’s your life and you want to make sure that you’ve lived the way you wanted to live.
然而，这些建议，虽然可能很难化成行动，是可以帮助你过上更好的生活的。不管他人觉得你的生活是多么的无聊、徒劳、危险，这都是你的生活，你要保证把它活出你想要的样子。
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