Thread: Top 5 Regrets In Life

The Top 5 Regrets In Life By Those About To Die

These were provided by a palliative worker, who worked with many patients who were facing their last days on this earth. She would always ask them questions about their life and these 5 were the most common themes that always re-occurred:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honor at least some of your dreams along the way.

From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.


2. I wish I didn’t work so hard – This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship.
Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.


3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings – Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.


4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends – Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.



5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one.


Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.
They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.


- By Bronnie Ware ( she actually has a book called "The top five regrets of dying")

Well to me if one part of something smells like BS it is entirely possible the entire thing is fake.

HOW in the world would EVERY male patient say they worked too much? The average male in the USA actually works LESS than 40 hours a week. Maybe if they could go back in time instead of working they would have won the lottery. I mean really what is the alternative to working enough hours to get the things you need, which is about all the majority of people in the USA do.

It is not like the avg male is working 80 hours a week so they can own a lear jet.

As for the other things such as staying in contact with friends or expressing emotion well that is all well and good but they didn't for a simple reason. they didn't want to and if they actually could go back in time 2 years they STILL would have acted the same way. Seriously these patients were NOT victiums of a car accident or sudden lightning strike. They included people who had been sick for years. Well then why the F didn't they express their emotions then????? Because it wasn't in them to do so.

The answers to most of the questions is an defeatest attitude and is the SAME mindset that makes people put a dinner on their credit card and take 20 years to pay it off. The average person is NOT willing to do what it takes to have a successful business, a financially stable life, even if they work for someone else, to have a number of true close friends, to have the spouse you really want.

To have the body you want, you EAT TOO MUCH and exercise too little simple as that.

I include myself in the average person so not in any way shape or form holding myself above anyone.


Ok morning rant over lol