Bronnie Ware is a nurse who spends most of her time with people during the last 12 weeks of their lives, she works in hospice in a specific context and has for many years. She began to ask these people specific questions and after awhile she began to see a pattern, and she started writing these things down. The top two regrets they had at the end of their lives:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. She said this was the most common regret of all. When people realize their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard. She said this came from every male patient she’d cared for. They missed their children’s youth and their partners companionship. All of the men she cared for deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
