Bronnie Ware, an Australian palliative care nurse, has counselled the dying in their last days. She recorded the thoughts of some of her patients in a blog that was so popular she went on to publish a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware wrote of the clarity of vision that most people gain at the end of their lives, and about how we might learn from their wisdom.
The top five regrets of the dying as witnessed by Ware 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’d stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish I’d let myself be happier.
Which of these speaks to you? And what might you change in your life right now so you don’t take this regret to your dying days?
