So I was listening an intellectual the other day and he said something like this:
Instead of studying Ottoman history, I wish I had had studied Byzantine history.
He said in the manner of a great regret in his life.
..
I think we understand what we really want at the end of our lives.
...
sorry for the inconvenience for the burden I make you read this.
I am always in search of how to live my life.
IM 35 and just about to give up.
If he had studied Byzantine history, he would have wished he could have devoted time to Ottoman history. His regret is based on the life he had led whereas the choice to lead that life was made before he had lived it. It was the best choice he could make with the information he had. That is all we can do because omniscience doesn't exist and if it did, it would make the entire exercise pointless.
I'm 73. I'm still working on documents from WWII. I'm good.