What Would You Regret?

Bronnie Ware

My husband sent me this thought-provoking and oh-so-true (as far as I can tell at my age) link yesterday. It’s about the top five things people regret as they are dying. It’s funny because they are what you would expect, which makes them cliché, possibly, but they also are so true they hit you right where you live. Maybe I should be more honest and say they hit my husband and me where we live.

Some of them I feel fairly comfortable with in my life. But, you know, ask me when I’m dying.

One think I found comforting is that everyone Bronnie Ware helped in her job grew a lot at the very end, and “Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.” I find this strangely comforting. Maybe because it’s what I had hoped, but also maybe because it’s a testament to the fact that we hold on tooth and nail until we reach that point. It’s a testament to gritty human nature.

Her point I wanted to highlight was number 5: I wish that I had let myself be happier. Oh, gosh, isn’t this just so true? We are most often the ones standing in the way of our happiness. Our deep-seated happiness, anyway ~ sure you might think a million dollars might make you happy, but I would think that would only allow you to run away a little bit farther. The hard things in life are the basis for lasting happiness, I’m convinced. And a lot of times we won’t let ourselves follow our dreams, for whatever reason.

So, my biggest takeaway is that, if someone today offers to make friends or someone sends you a link that would further your writing or you meet a cousin who mentions a retreat that is right in line with something you want to do, TAKE IT UP, for god’s sake. That’s the world with its eternal yeah saying, do it, we want you to be happy.