The 5 Biggest Regrets of the Dying

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 realise 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 had not honoured 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 honour 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 realise, 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. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
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 realise 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 is 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 realise 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.

http://exposingthetruth.info/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying/?mid=5440

Category:

Education

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• death
• hope
• regret
• love
• family
• passion
• happiness

[gramig0]

I am a Hospice nurse and these regrets are so very sad but true. I hear these regrets quite frequently from my patients.

Thanks for sharing!

[morningmayan]

@gramig0 That's a very hard job you do - thanks for sharing your story.

[Andreas748]

if you live in the present moment you won't have any regrets:)

[doedacker]

This one could potentially head the list: I wish I had done everything possible to stop the New World Order, for the sake of all life on the planet.

[homerbear46]

@Polarcupcheck THAT'd TOTALLY werk, we could time it to used our diminished strength together, and strangle him with our hospital tubes and shit...LULZ he'd shit his pants with two OAPs lunging ant him like zombies from either side.

[dawnten]

I already regret working so much to give my sons the lifestyle they were accustomed to. My youngest son sat at my feet crying and begging me to stay home and bake him cookies they way I used to, but without childsupport and no help from the govt I didn't see any other way. Now, my youngest son does not speak to me and I am not even allowed to see my own granddaughter when their father who I divorced to save them from being hurt physically is reaping the rewards of my raising them all alone.

[Polarcupcheck]

@homerbear46 If I ever wind up in a nursing home, I want to room with you. We'll take turns beating his ass.

[ChristopherJManess]

@Polarcupcheck Excellent point! It's called programming. We're all raised with certain values. In America it is often money that is most valued. $250,000 won't bring back the father who died in war, for instance. Those who are flagging my comment must know it to be true, or they wouldn't reject such harsh reality. I learned that bad things happen to people, period. I learned to not only accept it, but find good in it. Some lessons are not explained in plain language. Thank you for understanding!

[Polarcupcheck]

@ChristopherJManess I don't know why people are flagging your comments, it is a legite point of view.

The way I see it, it is all about values. If you don't value something, you won't miss it. If you do, you will. These values are always being re-evaluated, but people get trapped. Paradoxes start developing.

[Polarcupcheck]

@ChristopherJManess What happens when the future can't be better than the past? Uh, oh.

[clarkewi]

Great comments. Human life is temporary. Even a centinarian lives a short life relatively speaking. Being too critical solves nothing. It's important to cut yourself a litlle slack and not be too hard on yourself for "not doing everything" you wanted to do. Just remember to wisely use whatever time you have left to correct your mistakes.

[DrewAnti1960]

I lived almost all my dreams,I only work when i need money I taveled the world ,and I have had children,,,I served in the Military,and I am very happy to play guitar allday;LOL,smoke alot of weed,and just do what I have to do to survive,and most importantly Love every one as I love myself,Peace,and God Bless you