Do you have any Regrets?
Top five regrets of the dying – Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda…
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
These are from an article I read this morning: Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. It is the observations of Bonnie Ware an Australian palliative care nurse. It’s interesting reading.
How do you measure up? Any regrets so far?
Despite my flaws, despite my challenges, despite my weight, one thing I used to do well is live my life. I have had many amazing experiences, crossing many things off my bucket list. I have traveled, I have had interesting jobs, I have taken small moments and created great stories that will live in my mind forever. I have often been told that I should write a book about my life. Maybe one day, who knows?
Now having said all of this, in recent years I have not done as much as I would like – and if I were to die today I would have some regrets. Some of these I have shared in my previous blog posts. I still have a mammoth bucket list and I’m not ready to shuffle off just yet.
I have limited myself because of my weight. Some of it is real… a walk along the Great Wall of China is physically too challenging for me today. But most of it is just in my head! Many of the things that make a good life story, like a simple hike in the glorious natural beauty of Vancouver, are not at all out of reach. And yet my head keeps getting in the way. Talking me out of doing things. Taking me out of the game.
A good friend of mine, Chris Nelmes, has encouraged me to just go out and live the life I want; my body will catch up. He’s right of course. Why am I not doing it?
Another good friend, Dai Manuel, tweeted me something simple, yet profound this morning: “@artdodd all it takes is a little momentum, Art. 1 step, 2 steps, to 3 steps and so on. You are on the right path & I believe in u.” Thanks Dai!
My Occasional Walking Buddy Demon 
Today is a wonderful overcast and drizzly West Coast day. As I sit typing and staring out the window overlooking Campbell Valley Park, I’m thinking it’s a great time to bundle up and get out for a walk. I know my buddy Demon is game. Any excuse to get out walking is ok by him. He craves it!
Tell you what. How about I go get that leash, put some doggie treats in my pocket and head out for a good stomp? I know both Demon and I will enjoy it.
When I am lying on my deathbed thinking about my life, my goal is to be completely satisfied with my life and my legacy…
To have left no stone unturned!
Good luck out there and live your life as if today will be your last
Sometimes its hard to see the light, rock a little in the postion that you’re in now, remind yourself all it takes is that change in direction, back and forth, or front to back, the motion alone should be enough to feel your presence. We are our own worst enemies and you are worth every step you take. Just smile and know its in the right direction as there is only one way to move and that’s forward. Silently we’ll walk along side you smiling back.
Wow… thanks Katie for the insightful words. Yup I have to just take it one step at a time. I’ll get there
I do have some regrets
but not may
mainly I just love my kids and try to relax, have a good sleep every night and enjoy what i do
I make choices to do and not to do – and I try to live with it
RELAX EVERYONE -
LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!