Q: What would you regret?

I'm getting sick of the whole "what should I do with my life" blabbering (and I know everyone else is.. ahem ahem... husband...) so I figured that perhaps thinking about it differently, from another perspective, would be more helpful than just droning on with the same question of "what do I do what do I do...".

Hence my interview. With myself.

On the radio this morning they were talking about a book written by a nurse who has spent her life tending to patients near death.  She wrote about the most common regrets people express as they near the end of their lives.  Morbid, I know.  But, an interesting exercise.

Question 1:  If I looked back on my life in 30 years, would I regret anything?

- My marriage? Hell no.

- My family and friends? Definitely not.

- That last minute kind of indulgent trip to the Bahamas only 6 months after our honeymoon? Not one bit.

- Somehow making time to teach a bunch of dance and fitness classes in addition to a full time job and 2hr+ daily commute? Never.

- Leaving a Masters program that was sucking away my soul and not providing any enjoyment? Nope.

- Sitting in a cubicle 40+ hours a week following the standard corporate America pathway to financial/career security as my muscles and creativity and soul shrivel up into flabby lumps:  Yes.

I think I'd regret just sitting here for my whole life - for even a large part of my life.  Stting in my cubicle and feeling like all of my living happens in a short 48 hour period on the weekend. 

Is it a good job?  Yes.  It's a great job.  It's a great company.  As far as corporate America goes, I don't think I could find better.  They're all about the work/life balance.  Great retirement plan.  Decent salary.  Good benefits.  Really great coworkers.  Pretty interesting work.  I'm good at it - quite good.  

But 40+ hours a week?  In a cubicle?  Just doing this one thing that I'm not really passionate about? 

For me, a regret.