Life Is Short: Quotes To Help You Repair Your Relationship

Updated April 8, 2024by Regain Editorial Team

As a child, it might have felt like you'd have to wait forever until you grew up. But as you age, the days tend to pass by more quickly, and the years may begin to meld together. Of course, it's all a matter of perspective, but no one lives forever. 

Our lives and those of the people we choose to enjoy them with may be shorter than we'd like them to be. We might not get enough time to do everything we want or appreciate all we have.

When relationships with loved ones face turmoil, it can help to talk about it in therapy, reflect on it in your journal, or find quotes that help rekindle tender feelings in your heart. Because life is often too short not to repair relationships that you care about. 

This article highlights life quotes that might help you repair relationships with loved ones and find hope in the darkest times.

Repairing your relationships 

Repairing relationships can be hard work
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Repairing your relationships can be challenging, regardless of what caused the rift. It usually helps to reflect on why your relationship is in disrepair, and the help of a licensed therapist can provide an unbiased outside opinion to ensure you're on the right track. You might engage in individual therapy or have therapy sessions with the person or people you'd like to reconnect with. 

Therapy can help improve communication skills and your ability to make healthy life choices. In addition, research shows that couples therapy is an effective treatment for individual and relational distress. And if you're unsure about in-person therapy, online treatment is equally effective while offering more affordable prices and greater convenience. 

Sometimes, an outside party can see your disagreements in a different light. For example, arguments about a minor topic might be a symptom of a larger topic that needs to be addressed. And disputes over one person's behavior might point to a change necessary for the other or a need that isn't being met. 

It's also often easier to talk to a loved one with a therapist present, as they can help ensure everyone is being heard and has a chance to speak. By advocating for everyone involved, the therapist may be able to open doors and suggest resolutions that haven't been explored.

This isn't to say that it's impossible to repair relationships without therapy, though. Often, if everyone involved puts loving, concerted effort into improving a relationship, things will resolve themselves. Or you might realize that it's easier to let things go and enjoy each other's company regardless of your differences. 

What regrets are common in life?

If you've ever wondered what regrets you might have later in life, a palliative care nurse could be able to shed some light on the topic. For example, Bronnie Ware – a palliative care nurse – recorded regrets that most of her patients had in common as they lay on their deathbeds in her book, "The Top 5 Five Regrets of the Dying." 

According to Ware, the top five most common regrets people have in life are:

  • I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

  • I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

  • I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

  • I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

  • I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Not everyone will share these regrets, but many people looking back at their lives may find at least one true. And learning from the regrets of others might help you lead a happier life, express your feelings, stay in touch with loved ones, or be true to yourself. 

Quotes to inspire you to live life to the fullest 

Sometimes, all you need is an inspirational quote about how short life is to change your perspective and inspire you to repair meaningful relationships. So here are some words of wisdom to get you started:

"Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you CHOSE your life, you didn't SETTLE for it." - Mandy Hale

"We repeat what we don't repair." - Christine Langley-Obaugh

"One life. Just one. Why aren't we running like we are on fire towards our wildest dreams?" - Unknown 

"Be happy. You never know how much time you have left." - Unknown

"Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so love the people who treat you right, forgive those who don't and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it, if it changes your life, let it, nobody ever said it'd be easy, they just promised it'd be worth it." - Dr. Seuss

"Those who died yesterday had plans for this morning. Those who died this morning had plans for this evening. Don't take life for granted. In the blink of an eye, everything can change. So, forgive often and love with all your heart. You may never get to have that chance again." - John English 

"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make." - Lewis Carroll 

"Suppose there's even a slight chance at getting you something that will make you happy, risk it. Life is too short, and happiness is too rare." - A.R. Lucas

"The problem is not your problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem." - Jack Sparrow

"Sensitive people should be treasured. They love deeply and think deeply about life. They are honest, loyal, and true. The simple things sometimes mean the most to them. They don't need to change or harden. Their purity makes them who they are." - Unknown 

"Happiness is an inside job." - William Arthur Ward

"Life is short. Cut out the negativity. Forget gossip. Say goodbye to people who don't care. Spend time with the people who are always there." - Unknown 

"Life will always be hectic and complicated. You gotta stop waiting for life to get easier or better in order to be happy. Learn to be happy now." - Karen Salmansohn

"In three words, I can sum up everything I learned about life. It goes on." - Robert Frost

"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw

Repairing relationships can be hard work
Get the support you need with therapy

Repair your relationship in online therapy

We hope you found some of these quotes relatable, inspiring, or comforting, and they can help you begin repairing your relationships. However, it's worth noting that mending a relationship often requires the other person to share the same goal. You cannot control how someone will respond to your words or efforts or dictate the outcome of any situation. But you can try, and when you look back over your life, you'll likely be happy that you did. 

If you'd like to talk about the fleeting nature of life, how to repair your relationships, or the potential causes of rifts between you and your partner, Regain can help with online therapy. We'll match you with a licensed therapist based on your needs and preferences, with individual, couples, and family counseling options. From there, you can have sessions on your time, from the comfort of your home, without worrying about a commute or finding a nearby professional accepting new patients.

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