Romance Regrets: What Relationship Mistake Would You Take Back?

We all have regrets. And it turns out, when we look back on them, it's those tricky matters of the heart that we dwell on the most.

When researchers from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management recently surveyed 370 American adults about what they regret most, romance-related missteps topped the list -- and even more for women than for men.

What's that about? Do we look back and see possibility in relationships where there actually was none, or are we pretty bad at identifying and choosing the relationships that will make us happy in the long run? You tell us.

Maybe you gave too many second chances to a man who ended up not deserving them. Or you wrote off a guy who now seems like he might have been perfect for you. Whatever you wish you'd done differently in love, we want to hear about it.

Tweet your biggest romance regret @huffpostwomen using the hashtag #romanceregret. We'll publish our favorite responses in the slideshow below.

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Barbara Matthews

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@MatthewsB
Barbara Matthews

@huffingtonpostwoman A #romanceregret not taking the heartfelt advice I gave to my friends when I needed to hear it.

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This Regret

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Forget It Brutal

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Comments

[sjz8]

01:48 PM on 08/16/2011

Not telling him I was too good for him and was sick of never being good enough in comparison to his ex when he was standing at my door asking for me back. And not going to Buffalo to get my dog back after he took him when he moved there dumped me and got back with the ex I never could hold a candle to.

[Quest2011]

12:36 PM on 08/17/2011

You don't need him. Maybe the dog will run away and come back to you :-)

[lilyinbloom]

01:04 PM on 08/04/2011

Not heeding my own advice: "If he cheated on her with you, he'll cheat on you." - And he did.

[boots2t]

01:44 PM on 08/14/2011

I hope she dumped him too like I did.

[MissTake1989]

07:26 PM on 08/15/2011

And you deserved better?

[Tasies]

06:33 PM on 08/01/2011

Having an overly positive perception of my ex.

[Tara Kitchell]

02:20 PM on 07/31/2011

I regret sending the love of my life away 14 years ago and staying in another relationship that was unhealthy and not where I was supposed to be.....But me and my true love have rekindled our relationship after 14 years and I had got divorced in the process and now me and my TRUE LOVE are getting married in October of this year. I believe in happy endings and fate ! Good Luck to all other women who have wondered about the one that got away.....have faith and believe that DREAMS CAN and DO come true !

[MsLMPride]

08:08 AM on 07/20/2011

Not believing when he showed me who he truly is.

[Quest2011]

12:37 PM on 08/17/2011

My favorite saying that I tend to forget when I need it the most :-(

[LostMonkey]

11:22 AM on 07/15/2011

"Good things come to those who wait..." Stupid me! I was too much in love with her to realize that what she was really meant to say was - I'm waiting for someone better to come along!

[Chrissy Iz DaBetch]

09:34 AM on 07/15/2011

Not listening to my heart telling me to leave b4 our family fell apart. After eight yrs of verbal/mental and physical abuse and the look on my sons face whenever I got hurt finally woke me up. Where finally happy and living with a good man! Couldnt ask for anything more then happiness.

[rabbitfurcoat]

09:46 PM on 07/21/2011

Awwww I'm happy for you. Glad you left :)

[sextonfan]

01:55 AM on 07/14/2011

Sleeping with that guy on that first day I met him - I was really, really, drunk - and then turning him into a 4-yr long bf, even though I knew he wasn't a good fit.

[Calculator]

04:12 PM on 07/08/2011

Realizing that betrayal can't be rectified. Once that happens the relationship is destroyed it becomes toxic and antagonistic. Also, believing that the older someone is the more mature they are and realizing that someone with a degree can still be a thundering idiot.

[Stephanie Wills]

08:08 AM on 07/08/2011

Not listening to my own instincts that no, I'm not crazy and yes, he really is cheating on me with my best friend.

[sextonfan]

01:52 AM on 07/14/2011

That's awful :(. I'm sorry.

[jgsantos]

07:07 PM on 08/07/2011

That is quite common actually.
http://lifelong-success-system.blogspot.com/2011/04/money-in-your-mind.html

[jack Winn]

03:10 AM on 07/08/2011

"""bookmarking eharmony on the comp. i share with my wife. #romanceregret""

ROFLMAO!!!

[MaryfromIL]

12:38 AM on 07/08/2011

Should have stayed living together instead of marrying.

[FeralForever]

08:55 PM on 07/07/2011

My biggest regret? Not realizing you can't "fix" selfishness in a guy.

[KenMoore]

10:40 AM on 08/01/2011

Actually, you can't fix anything in anyone else.

[jf12]

05:03 PM on 07/07/2011

If I get this right, how many points? Most of the women said they wished they had dated more nerds instead of the hunky guys that they loved and lost. Most of the women in actuality simply wished they had had more of the hunky guys' attentions.

[InVinoVeritasBC]

04:36 PM on 07/07/2011

I don't regret any because I wouldn't be with who I'm with today. All past regrets were lessons that led me to my present...