Barb Cote ~ Artist, Poet, and Life Coach shares her perspective on life. She believes that having a Warrior spirit does not mean we've come here to fight...we've come to take a stand....and there's a difference. The former comes from a place of anger and retaliation...the latter is standing up for what we believe in from a place of love and hope for a better world.
Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
Bronnie Ware, a woman who worked for years in palliative care with the dying, wrote a list of the top 5 regrets that people express on their deathbed:
“ 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 had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
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.
3. I WISH I’D HAVE 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.
4. I WISH I’D HAVE 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.
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 themselves, 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.”
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