The 10 Biggest Regrets People Have

It's Friday, and many are ready for the weekend, but few will carry the guilt of regret too.

It's not their fault; life is like a road trip, full of decisions and choices that shape our path.

Some decisions propel us forward, while others leave us stuck in the quicksand of regret.

These regrets, the ones that nag at the back of our minds, often stem from the “what-ifs” that haunt us.

As life progresses, the “what-ifs” accumulate, leaving many wondering about the choices they didn’t make, the chances they didn’t take, and the paths they didn’t explore.

But before I begin, let me tell you the story of one of John Lennon’s biggest regrets over his largely absence in the life of his son, Julian, in his earlier years as a father during his first marriage to Cynthia Powell. Here’s the full story:

John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles, was a legendary musician whose influence on music and culture remains profound. However, his personal life, particularly his role as a father, was marked by complexities and regrets, especially regarding his relationship with his first son, Julian Lennon.

John Lennon and Cynthia Powell: The Early Years

John Lennon met Cynthia Powell in 1957 at the Liverpool College of Art. Despite their different backgrounds—Cynthia was more conservative, while John was rebellious—they began dating and eventually married in 1962 when Cynthia became pregnant. Their son, Julian Lennon, was born on April 8, 1963, just as The Beatles were skyrocketing to fame.

Lennon’s marriage to Cynthia was kept low-profile due to concerns that it could damage The Beatles' image as unattached young men. As The Beatles became a global sensation, Lennon’s time and energy were consumed by the band’s relentless schedule.

Tours, recording sessions, and media appearances left little time for family, and Lennon’s relationship with Cynthia grew strained. He became increasingly absent from their lives, both physically and emotionally.

Lennon's Absence in Julian's Life

During The Beatles' peak years, Lennon’s role as a father was almost nonexistent. He was frequently away on tour and caught up in the whirlwind of fame. Moreover, Lennon’s struggles with his own unresolved issues, including the trauma of losing his mother at a young age, led him to adopt a distant, often cold demeanor towards Julian. He struggled to connect with his son, and as he later admitted, he didn’t know how to be a father.

Lennon’s relationship with Cynthia deteriorated further, especially as he became involved with Yoko Ono, whom he met in 1966. By 1968, Lennon and Cynthia had divorced, and Lennon quickly married Ono.

Julian was only five years old at the time and was largely left behind as Lennon started a new life with Ono, eventually having another son, Sean, in 1975. While Lennon doted on Sean, embracing fatherhood in a way he hadn’t with Julian, his relationship with his first son remained distant.

Lennon's Regret and Attempt to Reconcile

In the 1970s, after The Beatles disbanded, Lennon began to reassess his life. During his "househusband" phase in the mid-70s, when he temporarily withdrew from the music industry to raise Sean, he reflected on his past and realized how much he had missed with Julian.

In interviews, Lennon openly acknowledged his failures as a father to Julian. He admitted that he was too young and self-centered when Julian was born and recognized that his absence had deeply affected his son.

In one poignant interview, Lennon said, “Sean is a planned Read The Full Article on Substack