Nurse at palliative care reveals the top 5 regrets of people right before they died

Most of the time, we take things for granted and fail to appreciate what we have until it’s too late.

Having regrets about things we did wrong, or things we didn’t have the courage to undertake, is simply part of human nature. Sometimes, life gives us second chances to try and make things right. Other times, we are forced to live with our regrets and feel sorry for lost opportunities and possibilities.

Have you ever wondered what people like you and I regret the most?

Bronnie Ware, a nurse who spent most of her life in palliative care, witnessed many of her patients leave this world right in front of her eyes. In her book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing, she shares the top five regrets of people who are aware their time has come to say their final goodbye.

Ware writes: “My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. For many years I worked in palliative care…”

She then goes on to list the regrets:

1. “I Wish I Had the Courage to Live a Life True to Myself, Not the Life Others Expected of Me”

   During their final days, many people reflect on the things they left undone. They often regret not living the life they truly wanted for themselves, but instead living according to what others expected. “Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing it was because of the choices they had made—or not made,” Ware writes. This is a reminder to never give up on our goals and dreams for the sake of others.

2. “I Wish I Hadn’t Worked So Hard”

   The demanding schedules and pressures of work can often lead to missing out on quality time with family and friends. Striving for success, fame, and money can leave us feeling spiritually incomplete, especially when we miss important moments with loved ones.

3. “I Wish I Had the Courage to Express My Feelings”

   Having the courage to express our true feelings and be honest with others is something not many people possess. Often, we stay silent to avoid making others uncomfortable, even though it’s us who suffer from the things left unsaid and the feelings left unexpressed. Many also regret not telling their loved ones how much they care about them and how much they mean to them.

4. “I Wish I Had Stayed in Touch with My Friends”

   As time goes by, our priorities can shift, but one thing we should never allow to happen is to drift apart from the people who once meant the world to us. According to Ware, many people regret not giving enough time and effort to friendships. “Often, they would not truly realize the full benefits of friends until their dying weeks, and it was not always possible to track them down,” she writes.

5. “I Wish I Had Let Myself Be Happier”

   Happiness is a choice that many people fail to make. Fear of change can lead people to pretend to be content when, deep down, they long for laughter and joy. As Ware writes, “Fear of change had them pretending to others and to themselves that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly.” We should never let fear stop us from seeking happiness and doing the things that bring us joy.

In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Please share this article with your family and friends to remind them that life is short and we should do our best to live it to the fullest.

Love and Peace,
Bored Daddy