How we can learn from the regrets of the dying

Kristy Bertenshaw
2 min readSep 8, 2020

If today was your last day on this planet, how would you choose to live it?
What would you do? Give? Share? Who would you call to thank, or tell them you love them?
This is a real concern at the moment, with nearly a million people dead globally, and almost thirty million infected with COVID-19 to date.

These are five regrets of the dying, which are worth thinking about while we are still alive.

I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
I wish that I had let myself be happier.

How can we use these as lessons on the daily, in our lives? Or to enrich the lives of others? A couple of simple questions to think about came to mind.

Do you think you have much impact on the lives of people whose paths you cross, whether it be in real or virtual life? How could you show up as the kindest, most generous & grateful version of yourself daily?
(As much as humanly possible)

Has anyone, over a short period of time, significantly influenced your life? How so? Have you ever thanked them? Or paid it forward?

What does living a life true to yourself, not the life others expect of you look like? Are you living it? Can you take steps to? Will you?

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Kristy Bertenshaw

I love to write bite-sized stories, essays & poetry. Revenue Generation & Growth Specialist | Passionate About Using Technology & Storytelling to Drive Results.