No More Regrets

Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development

I often listen to wise people in an effort to not be so stupid.

I say stupid because like many people I tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.  Like going to McDonald’s last night after a long day at work.  Hey, I deserved a Big Mac, fries, and chocolate shake.  Right?  Nooooo!  Not exactly a vegan meal.  I knew better, but I still did it.

Well, a very wise teacher told me about a book written by nurse, Bronnie Ware.  Bronnie took the time to record the most common regrets of people nearing the end of their life in The Top Five Regrets of the Dying:  A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.

What were the top five regrets?

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 hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Do you have any regrets?  I often do.  I believe we can all learn from the dying.  The book’s message:  life is too short, so live.

Perhaps, we should …

1. Try to change the world – wherever we’ve been placed.
2. Strive for excellence, but always be mindful of keeping a healthy work-life balance.
3. Kiss our spouse and kids often … always tell them, “I love you.”
4. Protect and foster our relationships and put the interests of others above ourselves.
5. Don’t let circumstances beyond our control own us  (That’s especially hard for me).

Sometimes it makes sense to stop, take stock, and remember our true priorities.  Those dying remind us that the troubles of today will be a distant memory when it’s our time to leave this world.  Maybe, we should heed their advice.