Top 5 regrets of the dying

Thanks for the article - #1 on the articles' list is by FAR the most important to me, and for me #s 2- 5 flow naturally out of it.

#2 is actually a surprise to me. Personally, I would have a lot of pride for working hard all of my life. Unless they just mean working a menial job, then I can understand what they mean.

He'd wish to be rich also...

upon reading this, I learned that it is important to treasure and make the most of every second we have

A few years ago I was choking on my breakfast and couldn't breathe. I had been working on something for my daughter and all I could think was, 'Damn, now I won't finish the project'.

Very deep stuff i must admit

In order to live a fulfilling life, you must spend it more with your loved ones.

i agree with mikehess

I agree with you but the number 3 is most important to me.

In the end, it is about giving and receiving love. I am surprised that none of the regrets expressed a regret that they had not been closer to family members.

Along life's path, there are Earthly needs. One is the need to make a good living. Although one may regret working too hard, one will not regret working smart.

Fascinating stuff!!

Interesting indeed... but how many of the bunch had no regret whatsoever the article doesn't say? My guess is that it was an insignificant percentage...

Bernard

I actually worked in healthcare years ago and got close to lots of people who were near the end of their time. I asked many of them if they'd do anything different if they could. There were only two answers, The first was the #1 listed here. They would have done more, tried more things, not been so afraid to live.

But the second answer was that they would have been a better spouse, parent, friend, etc. That they would have made more time and took more of an interest in the people that loved them and that they loved.

I wish i spend so much time with family... this is the most regret that most people say.

Interesting stuff.. My friend used to tell me "Will you be willing and glad to leave this world IF you have to leave tomorrow?"

If you are NOT willing, then you'd better start doing something about it!

I like the first point ! It reminds me a lot of that

nice share of thoughts

Well, I think about is Not looking both ways when that truck was coming.

One mantra I stick by as much as possible is the following

"Its better to try and quit, than to not try and ponder."

Pretty much goes for anything, I dont want to be at deaths door thinking, "if only I'd done this or that"

This is one of the most principles in life of all. Live the life to its fullest. Don't let others tell you what to do. Take responsibility for your actions. Living small and in fear is like not living at all.

Thanks for the great article.

Let's be honest guys...

The first is...

I wish i hade more..sex-money and power!

I have a couple of things to say about Regret #1.

1) more people need the courage required to go after their dreams when they have a family, mortgage, plus other bills. When they talk about what they'd "like" to do, they are told to be realistic. Instead of "believing in themselves", they allow the dream stealers to win. They forfeit the experience of idea development, momentum and eventual success.

2) We here on the forum are trained to be risk takers. It has become a part of who we are. Most people live with so much fear that developing an idea that could actually work gets shot down as seemingly impossible.

It's interesting, I find myself thinking a lot about dying with my major desires within me and I don't like the feeling. I have no idea how I'm going to write and star in a major Hollywood movie that will win me an award, but somehow, I will. I have no idea how I will become a #1 New York Times bestselling author, but I will.

My sincere wish for all who reads this is to pursue your dreams and goals with the confident belief that you can do and become whatever you desire.

"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal or ideal."

-- Earl Nightingale

Everyone of you are already successful because you are pursuing a worthy goal or ideal.

Thanks for this great motivational info

This is very true. That was a very good article to read. Thanks for that, it has helped me a lot!

A couple of months ago I experienced a physical condition where I was convinced I was dying and had, perhaps, just minutes to live. My #1 regret was that I had not spent more time with family and had not encouraged and praised each of them more.

However, being at peace with the Creator and having no fear of death, I declared to Him in silent prayer that I was ready to go if it was my time.

Turned out it was not my time and the condition, although new to me, was not uncommon. Within a couple of hours, I had recovered and aside from a few relapses over the next several days, I soon returned to normal (well, "normal" for ME! lol)

GT

I remember coming across this article in the past -- definitely worth a read.

good share

Great Article! Thanks for sharing.

I couldn't care less if I'm not remembered by a bunch of people I don't know. The important thing to me is that I make the people I love happy.

Out of all of these, I can't relate to a single one, and it helps me realize not just how fortunate I am, but how far I've come in my own personal development.

I spend the most time with the people I love, my family and closest friends. Even if I spend 100% with them, I'd still wish that I had more time with them when I reach the end of the road... I think any loving person would.

Being Christian, I believe that in death I have a lot to look forward to, and that ultimately I'll be with the people I love here on earth some point in heaven.

I've found that a lot of people are uncomfortable with death, but death is something to come to terms with, not something to be feared. Focus on it in positive light, and you'll find yourself wondering how you can live a better life. That's what I've done, and now I find this list of five doesn't apply to me in the slightest.

Give abundantly, especially in love and happiness. Even when you pour out your heart and give everything you've got, you'll find that you only have a single regret... that you couldn't somehow give more than everything you had.

I think that to a certain extent most people will have some regrets when they die, it's human nature to think that you could have done more or had more with the time you had. Similar to when we lose a loved one and we feel guilt because we feel we should have done more with them or spoken to them more.

A good technique for finding out what's really important to you is to select a quiet spot, close your eyes and imagine you are on your deathbed... imagine you are at the end of your life... then take notice of any regrets that come into your mind. Then take action!

The more you take control of your life, the more joy you will have.

Most frustration comes from not going anything, or doing something that is not meant for you.

You get the most satisfaction out of the things that are important to you.

If you are naturally afraid of everything, then it´s time to change that. You have no time to be a scared chicken just because you have been one your entire lifetime.

Push yourself and get better.

Its good to remind oursleves of whats really important in life - family & friends (& pets...)

Great to read these sorts of things on a regular basis. Keeps us focussed on what's important.

#1 really hits it home...

I read the article a while ago on Guardian - I have to say that #1 just says it all, very deep

I hope I am not dying but here is my regret so far: I wish I could let my doing live up to my knowing. I wish I had implemented all that stuff that I had learned. I wish I hadn't have spent all that money on IM products :-) I wish I had become very proficient at just one thing and moneytized it.

The Saving Grace of it all is that in spite of the regrets, I have a great life a great wife and am very happy!

#1 is something I have always done...I have little regard for what others think of me and I tend to do my own thing no matter the cost. (This isn't always smart, but it's worked out OK so far.)

I have no fear of death, and as morbid as it sounds, I look forward to seeing what's next after this life. If I had any regrets so far, it would be never having moved next to the ocean...I'm working on a college degree and, no matter what, when I finish the degree I WILL be knocking that regret off the list.

-- j

My life is almost perfect at this moment. I wish i could live longer my beautiful life.

Live life to the fullest, common advice which is true.

Pretty neat article. Makes you think about your own life.

Interesting list indeed! I always thought about some people that spend all their life chasing and reaching for happiness only to finally realize that happiness was there all a long they just needed to choose to embrace it.

Why wait to be happy when you can choose to be happy now? =-)

Just a thought.

Thank you for the reminder to live each day as if it were my last. Regrets are very painful.

I think #2 is not saying don't work hard and don't take pride in it but just to remember some times there are wonderful things in life outside of just working. Gotta make sure your balance yourself or you'll die wishing you had taken that trip to the Bahamas, backpacked through Europe, or just spend more time with family/friends.