Introduction to the Weekly Topic

 

Hello [English Club] members! 🌟

 

This week, we’re diving into a universal yet deeply personal emotion: Regret. Whether it’s a path not taken, a dream left unspoken, or a choice that still lingers in our minds, regret often shapes how we view our past and navigate our future. But what if we could transform regret from a burden into a teacher?

 

Why discuss regret?

 

Regret is more than just "I wish I’d done something differently." It’s a mirror reflecting our values, fears, and hopes. By exploring it, we can:

 

Understand how major decisions (careers, relationships, risks) shape our lives.

Learn to balance practicality with passion.

Discover how others cope with the "what ifs" that haunt us all.

 

This week, we’ll ask questions like:

 

Is it worse to regret what you did or what you didn’t do?

Can a "failed" dream still be worth pursuing?

How do cultural expectations influence our regrets?

 

Whether you’re here to…

 

Share a personal story,

Debate tough choices,

Or simply reflect on life’s crossroads,

 

…this is a safe space to speak openly, learn from others, and maybe even find peace with the past.

 

Let’s start the conversation:

"If you could speak to your younger self about a regret, what would you say?" 💬

 

Grab a cup of tea, flex your vocabulary (hello, existential ambivalence!), and let’s explore the power of regret together. Your voice matters here!

Subtopics & Questions        

 

1. Dreams vs. Reality

 

·Is it more painful to regret not trying to achieve a dream or to regret failing after trying?

·How do you decide when a dream is "impossible"? What factors matter most (age, finances, societal pressure)?

·Can pursuing an "impossible" dream still be valuable, even if it fails?

 

2. Career & Education Choices

 

·Have you ever chosen a "safe" career path over a passion? How do you reflect on that decision now?

·Is it worse to regret staying in a stable but unfulfilling job or leaving it for uncertainty?

·How can people minimize regret when choosing a college major or career?

 

3. Relationships & Missed Connections

 

·Is it better to regret ending a relationship or staying in one out of fear?

·How do you cope with the "what if" of a past romantic opportunity you didn’t pursue?

·Can friendships fade due to inaction, and how does that regret compare to romantic regrets?

 

4. Risk-Taking & Regret

 

·Are people who take big risks (e.g., starting a business, moving abroad) more likely to regret their choices? Why or why not?

·How do cultural values (e.g., stability vs. adventure) shape our perception of "regrettable" risks?

 

5. Aging & Reflection

 

·Do older people tend to regret actions they did take or those they didn’t? Why?

·How can younger people learn from the regrets of older generations?

 

6. Societal Expectations

 

·How do regrets tied to family pressure (e.g., marriage, career) differ from personal regrets?

·Can societal norms ever justify suppressing your true desires to avoid future regret?

Discussion Patterns

 

1. Hypothetical Scenarios

 

·"Imagine you’re 70 years old. Which would you regret more: never starting your own business or starting one that bankrupted you?"

·"If you could erase one major regret, would you choose a decision you made or one you avoided?"

 

2. Debate-Style Questions

 

·"It’s better to regret something you did than something you didn’t do." Agree or disagree?

·"Regret is a waste of time because the past can’t be changed." How would you argue for or against this?

 

3. Role-Playing

 

·Split members into pairs: One argues for pursuing a dream despite the risk, the other argues for practicality. Switch roles afterward.

 

4. Pros vs. Cons Lists

 

·Have members share a decision they regret and list 3 "pros" that came from it (e.g., lessons learned, unexpected opportunities).

Closing Activity

 

·Share Your Story: Invite members to post a brief story about a regret they’ve made peace with. Discuss how they transformed that regret into growth.

The vocabulary list of this topic: https://zh.purasbar.com/post.php?t=31405

I think make mistakes and then pay the price is normal things for human beings. People are not creatures with omniscience

Is it more painful to regret not trying to achieve a dream or to regret failing after trying?

According to researches of Psychologists, regret not trying to achieve a dream at all is more painful then regret failing after trying for most people

How do you decide when a dream is "impossible"? What factors matter most (age, finances, societal pressure)?

I think the most important thing for making a decision is not the "difficulty", but balancing the risks and income

And when you want to pursue a dream, you should know the price clearly. Your "firmness" should not be based on fluke mind, or I suggest you not to pursue your dream

Can pursuing an "impossible" dream still be valuable, even if it fails?

Trying to break the world record seems also to be "impossible", but still meaningful, because it proves how human beings become faster, higher and stronger

Are people who take big risks (e.g., starting a business, moving abroad) more likely to regret their choices? Why or why not?

I think the answer is yes, so we should make a plan B as retreat when we decide to venture