Top regrets 4 -6

I have talked about the book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Australian author Bronnie Ware is an Australian author. For several years, Bronnie sat by the bedsides of dying people. The conversations shared were personal, life-changing, and enormously insightful.

Others have expanded on her work by interviewing patients in palliative care units and nursing homes who are seeing their last days on earth to share their regrets in life. Their answers were memorable and worth considering as you retire

NUMBER 4:

I should have said I Love You a lot more.

The importance of love becomes more pronounced toward the end of life. At this time, unreturned love will also be more painful.

It can be hard to tell someone that you love them, especially if you fear rejection. But not expressing those feelings will leave an unsettled need in you and possibly affect all future relationships. If you are afraid of getting hurt, remember that it’s better to make your love known than to spend the rest of your life dwelling on what could have been.

Question:

·   Who are the people you wish you had said “I Love You” more frequently?o   Why don’t you pick up the phone, send a text or an email and let them know how you truly feel about them?

NUMBER 5:

I should have spoken my mind more instead of holding back and resenting things.

Many people choose not to confront those who offend them, thinking that this would keep things civil. In truth, suppressing anger breeds bitterness, which leads to various diseases. Harbouring bitterness also makes you emotionally crippled and prevents you from fulfilling your true potential.

If you want to have healthy relationships, honesty and confrontation are necessary. The common misconception about conflict is that it creates division. In reality, if it’s done kindly and constructively, confrontation deepens mutual respect and understanding.

Question:

·    What are two or three things you didn’t speak your mind about that you now resent?

·    What are the first steps you can take today to rectify that situation?

NUMBER 6:

I should have been the bigger person and resolved my conflicts.

Many times, death beds and funerals are more miserable because of broken relation- ships that were never restored. Likewise, relationships are ruined when misunderstandings are not dealt with immediately, resulting in a lifetime of hostility.

Conflicts are a part of life; you can’t avoid them, but you should never let your anger last for more than a day. Choose to forgive. Right the wrongs that you can, while you can.

Questions

·   What are the outstanding conflicts from your past that have not been resolved?

·   Why don’t you be the bigger person and right the wrongs from your past while you still can?