Bronnie Ware

None of the life reviews I witnessed from the side of deathbeds included the wish that they had bought or owned more, not even one. Instead, what most occupied the thoughts of dying people were how they lived their lives, what they did, and whether they had made a positive difference to those they left behind, whether that was family, community or whoever.

Of all the regrets and lessons shared with me as I sat beside their beds, the regret of not having lived a life true to themselves was the most common of all. It was also the one that caused the most frustration, as the client’s realization came too late.

The freedom to be you is the greatest freedom of all.

We agreed there is always a gift in any challenge. ‘People play the victim forever,’ she continued. ‘But who are they kidding? They are only robbing themselves. Life doesn’t owe you anything. Neither does anyone else. Only you owe yourself. So the best way to make the most out of life is to appreciate the gift of it, and choose not to be a victim.’

Having the courage to be ourself and not who others expect us to be may take a lot of strength and honesty. But so does lying on our deathbed and admitting that we wished we had done it differently. This regret—wishing they had been true to themselves—was the most common of all.

‘We must learn to express our feelings now,’ Jude emphasized. ‘Not when it is too late. None of us ever know when it will be too late. Tell people you love them. Tell them you appreciate them.’

Assuming others know how you feel and that you will always be there are high risks to take. They could be dead in an hour, so could any of us. We risk paying a high price if we take people for granted.

The clock ticks for every one of us. It is our own choice how we spend the remaining days.