Rhiannon Ingle
One nurse has shared the five biggest things dying people regret most at the end of their life.
Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse from Australia, worked closely with dying people for eight years and has since revealed a handful of the most common regrets her patients felt in the final months of life.
She opened up about the observations in her bestselling memoir, which has since been read by more than a million people worldwide, titled The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.
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Up first on Bronnie's list is 'I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me'.
The nurse explained that many of her patients felt they weren't being authentic to themselves and people-pleased with their romantic partners, family and friends throughout their life by disregarding their own wants.
"'The only way we can find peace within is to be true to our own calling, our dream and own nature," she wrote.
Next is 'I wish I hadn’t worked so hard'.
I'm sure many of us are guilty of this one.
Whether you've rocked up late to a friend's birthday party because of overtime or skipped out on your kid's school play over a tight work deadline - many of us have sadly missed a load of important milestones in our social and personal lives for the sake of a job.
Bronnie shared that, because of this, her patients regretted not having a more equal work life balance where they actively prioritised those they cared about over their workload.
Third on the list is arguably one of the most important things, 'I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings'.
Bronnie explained that suppressed feelings could lead to a load of nasty events down the line.
Whether it was resentment, bitterness or even totally broken relationships - stifling your true feelings and not being honest with others is a big no-no.
"Being vulnerable and truthful about our emotions and experiences is what connects us to others, and allows us to experience true intimacy," the nurse explained.
The fourth deathbed regret revolved around social life.
Bronnie explained many of patients revealed 'I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends' in their final days.
Highlighting the importance of keeping up with your pals, especially when things like family, work and generally life's chaos, the nurse encouraged people to keep on putting energy into their friendships and make an effort to keep them strong.
The fifth and final dying regret Bronnie found is arguably the saddest of them all.
'I wish I had let myself be happier'.
"Happiness is a choice," she wrote, "and everyone must consciously and actively choose it on a daily basis."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677