Janis Grummitt - Five Most Common Regrets

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When my father was dying from cancer in 2001, I asked him if he had anything to tell me before he died. I was looking for a revelation – something I could learn from. He said ‘The only thing that matters at the end of the day is love’. This was strange coming from a man who had been so career oriented, so left brained and so controlled all his life. Typically, I had to nearly die myself before I started to understand the importance and meaning of his words.

Today I read an article by Bronnie Ware, a woman who spent many years in palliative care with people who knew they were dying. She has listed the five most common regrets of those who are dying. They resonated with my memory:

• 1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me

• 2. I wish I didn’t work so hard

• 3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings

• 4. I wish I’d stayed in touch with my friends

• 5. I wish I’d let myself be happier

No surprises here, but how many people are still working to ‘get ahead’ when they really need to get a heart to be happy?

Bonnie finishes her blog with the words: ‘Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.'
 

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