What Would Your Deathbed Regrets Be if You Died Tomorrow?
DEATH has been on my mind a lot lately, not because I'm ill or feeling doomed, but because I recently experienced a devastating loss in my immediate family and have been riding the waves of grief the best way I know how.
One thing that keeps coming up for me is the feeling of regret for not saying and doing things I wish I had before this beautiful soul left the earthly plane.
She knew she was loved beyond measure, but I keep wishing that I'd taken more time for play and outings in her final years. That I'd gotten off my phone more or worked less hours so we could have more quality time together…
What I wouldn't give to have her back for even just one day.
In case you're wondering, it was my almost 14-year-old dog, Puppa, who died.
She was my best friend and a second mama to my son for the last 10+ years, beginning the moment he came home with me from the hospital in 2013.
Puppa taught me so many lessons in life:
Unconditional love
Patience
How fun it is to live in the moment
(to name only a few).
And as I grieve, I realize that I don't want to feel regret over anything when I'm lying on my own deathbed and reflecting on the time I got to have on Earth.
I don't think you do either.
Good thing you still have time, right?! If you're reading this, then you are still very much alive and can start making different choices now.
This all might sound kind of morbid; it's not meant to be.
It’s just another lesson I'm learning from Puppa, even now, in her absence.
And since I’m currently wading through this place of curiosity surrounding death, I decided to do a little research on the top regrets of the dying.
The 5 most common themes that emerge from studies and observations of people nearing the end of their lives are:
Not living true to oneself (not pursuing your dreams and/or living according to other people's expectations instead of your own)
Working too much (spending too much time on your work or career pursuits at the expense of your relationships and personal fulfillment)
Not expressing feelings (whether it's love, gratitude, or apologies, to those who matter to you)
Neglecting friendships and/or family (prioritizing work or other pursuits over spending time with friends/family or letting those relationships fade)
Neglecting health and well-being (keeping unhealthy habits or ignoring medical advice and holding onto grudges or past hurts over being happy in the present moment)
While Puppa didn't die with these kinds of regrets (because our canine friends don't do any of these nutty things we humans do), I started thinking about the regrets I'd have if I died tomorrow.
And I wrote them down so that I could create better habits which will help me make better choices.
Some people call it a bucket list, but before you can cross off the items on your bucket list, there might be things you have to resolve to be, do, or change in order to accomplish them.
All you need to get started is a pen and a piece of paper.
Answer these questions:
What would your deathbed regrets be if you died tomorrow?
Who do you need to be to not have that regret?
What action can you take today to be that person?
I hope this exercise is a good reminder for you (as it was for me) to…
Live your life authentically
Prioritize meaningful relationships
Pursue your passions
Remember that your physical and emotional well-being are top contributors to how your final days will play out
Let me know how it goes.
xoxo
Randi
I offer monthly bookkeeping services.
One of my special gifts is detail. Putting all the pieces together to tell your financial story and help you make better business decisions is one of my favorite ways to spend my time.
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