Hospice nurse reveals top regret of the dying

1. I wish I had let myself be happier.

The first one (failing to live authentically) came up the most. “When people realize their life is almost over, it becomes painfully clear how many dreams they left unrealized,” Ware wrote in a blog post. “Most had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing it was due to choices they made, or didn’t make.”

 

Sometimes those choices are shaped by external pressure: the degree your parents wanted, the job you took for stability, or the life path that felt more “acceptable” than joyful. Ware urges people to consider their own desires early, and often, before they end up sidelining them entirely.

One of the most common regrets, overworking, continues to be a reality for many. A 2023 Harris Poll found that 78% of American workers are still leaving vacation days unused, often burning themselves out in pursuit of professional success.

But overwork often comes at the cost of connection. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates admitted this during a 2023 commencement address at Northern Arizona University. “When I was your age, I didn’t believe in weekends. Or vacations. Or time off for anyone, really,” Gates said. “It wasn’t until I became a father that I realized: there’s more to life than work.”

His advice? “Don’t wait as long as I did to learn that lesson. Take time to nurture your relationships. Celebrate your wins. Recover from your losses. And let the people around you do the same.”

Ware echoes that message. The people who felt most at peace at the end of their lives had prioritized joy, love, and personal authenticity. They hadn’t waContinue reading…