Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse, spent several years caring for people in the last twelve weeks of their lives. When people asked if they had any regrets, it wasn’t about having more sex or doing a bungee jump. Here are the top five 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. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked 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 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 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.”

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.”

Have a curious day.

Wouldn’t it be great never to have to work again? That’s what its like when you earn a living by doing what you love – its not work, its fun.

Think about it. If you can earn a pretty good living doing something you hate, why can’t you earn a great living doing something that you love? Have a look at the link for some tips on how to do it.

Have a curious day.

Most early morning thoughts are about showers, make-up, children, food, transport and work. Percentage-wise how much time did you spend preparing your body for today as opposed to your mind. Decide how you want to be today. Happy? Relaxed?

Have a curious day.

Don’t wait for your next pay rise, your next holiday, or the weekend to be happy. Don’t live a life of martyrdom and self denial, hoping that one day you’ll be happy. Pay compliments, celebrate good news, work to live. Be happy now.

Have a curious day.

Excuses

Once again

I hear of people who are going to

settle down and

do their work

painting or writing or whatever,

as soon as they get a better light installed

or as soon as they move to a new city,

or as soon as they come back from the trip they have been planning,

or as soon as……

It’s simple: they just don’t want

to do it,

or they can’t do it

otherwise they would feel a burning itch from hell

they could not ignore

and “soon”

would turn quickly into

“now”

Charles Bukowski

Been putting something off? Get that burning itch from hell.

Have a curious day.