If you are over 50, you have likely lost loved ones or witnessed close friends grappling with life-threatening illnesses. As you enter the second half of life, acknowledging your mortality can increase joy, faith, satisfaction, and health in the years to come.
Bronnie Ware, the author of "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying," has spent time with patients in the last three to 12 weeks of their lives. While her role involved physical care, she also served as a compassionate listener. In her Ted X talk, she states, "Whether life is short life or long, time is a gift. The choice is yours how you use it." She believes that death is the ultimate motivational tool for living. A wake-up call providing perspective to all of us so we don't have significant regrets at the end of our lives. Her patients often expressed disbelief that their time on this planet was over so soon. Through her work with terminally ill patients, Ware noted five common areas of regret:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
3. I wish I had stayed in better touch with my friends.
4. I wish I hadn't worked so hard all the time.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
In interviews, she recommended following your calling and not letting others silence your song so you don't fall victim to the first regret. She advocates taking responsibility and not running away from your duties but being gentle on yourself, forgiving your mistakes, and showing yourself some grace and compassion. Ware advocates being humble enough to accept help while permitting yourself to enjoy your life, spend time with friends and family, and find things that make you smile.
Setting an example of strength, faith, joy, and courage through a well-lived life is perhaps the greatest gift you can give your family and friends. As with financial planning, the best time to start making positive changes in your life is now.