Regrets of the Dying

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I've recently read an article as recommended by a friend from www.inspirationandchai.com and it's entitled the Regrets of the Dying. The author has worked in palliative care which means her patients are those who could count their days left on earth. She saw that from the moment the final day has been decided, until that dreaded final rest, people struggle, and grieve until they are able to accept that their life on earth will be over soon. And as she asked her patients about the regrets they had in their lives, five common themes surfaced. 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. We are in a people-pleasing generation. We don't want futher arguments, we want a peaceful life so we give in to what others expect us to do. Worst, we become the person molded by other's expectations, and not the one we wanted to be. In the verge of death, we could only wish that we could have fought for what we wanted, and had a different life. And that could have been better. 2. I wish I didn't work so hard. This comes from the people who have worked really hard for the rest of their lives missing most of the important things in life. I am now working in a company where people work so hard until late at night. I can't keep up with their lifestyle. It's not good for my health, and I can't just be a working-machine everyday. Sometimes I wonder how do they ever spend time with their families, friends. I, too, wanted to work hard and earn more so that I can save more for the future but if it strips me off of the joys of life, and take away my time for the people that matter to me, I think I have to reconsider my options before it's too late. 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. This struck me because I often keep things to myself because I am usually scared to bother the status quo. When I get irritated, I just write them down because I don't want to ruin my relationship. If I am falling for someone, I try to hide it because I fear rejection. I have suppressed so much emotions in me, and I don't want to grow old regretting this. I really have to do something with this. 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. I work in a foreign country, and my friends live in my hometown. I made some few friends here but it's really different to have my old friends back home. I chose to be here to have a better opportunity.I have missed a lot of get-together already but whenever I get home I always try to be reunited with everyone I love. And so far, I have been keeping in touch with my old friends especially those I dear the most. 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. Happiness is indeed a choice. And joy is a gift from God. I believe God has written a wonderful story for every one of us. But although this story has a beautiful plot, we have choices in between, and we are the ones to decide how it's going to end. So we should choose the happy path before it's too late. We shouldn't complicate life because of the pains, betrayals, or whatever we have experienced in the past. In the end, we should let go and let God so we won't lie in our deathbed full of regrets on the life we chose for ourselves.