Monday, April 14, 2025

Dying Peoples' 10 Biggest Regrets


When Regret Comes Too Late: 10 Lessons From Hospice Workers

By Amanda Blankenship, 9 days ago

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At the end of life, clarity often arrives in the form of regret. Hospice workers—who spend their days supporting the dying—have a unique front-row seat to the things people wish they’d done differently. These professionals witness final confessions, last goodbyes, and unfinished dreams. Their insight is a sobering reminder of what truly matters, and what we risk missing if we’re not careful. Here are 10 unforgettable life lessons from hospice workers—shared by those who hear what most people never say until it’s too late.

1. People Regret Working Too Much

One of the most consistent regrets voiced by the dying is spending too much time at work—and not enough time living. Careers and achievements that once seemed urgent often fade in importance compared to missed birthdays, skipped dinners, and lost time with loved ones.

Hospice workers report that very few people reflect on their careers with pride; they remember moments, not meetings. Balance matters. What we chase today can easily become the thing we regret tomorrow if it pulls us away from what’s irreplaceable.

2. They Wish They’d Expressed Their Feelings More Freely

Many people go to their graves carrying words they never said. Hospice caregivers often hear final wishes to say “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” or even just “I’m proud of you.” Fear of rejection or conflict holds people back, but in the end, the unsaid words haunt more than any awkward moment ever could.

Emotional honesty isn’t weakness—it’s freedom. The dying often express a deep wish that they’d been more open, more vulnerable, and more willing to say what truly mattered when they still had the chance.

3. They Regret Letting Fear Make Their Decisions

Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of change. Hospice workers say many people live small, safe lives—not because they want to, but because fear held them back. Whether it’s not changing careers, not leaving toxic relationships, or not traveling, people often look back wishing they’d been braver.

Courage isn’t about being fearless—it’s about moving forward anyway. When life is short, boldness becomes more important than perfection. The regret of “what if” is one of the heaviest burdens at the end.

4. They Wish They’d Kept in Touch With Friends

Life gets busy, and relationships fall by the wayside. But in their final days, many people express deep sadness about losing touch with old friends. Hospice staff often hear dying patients ask for people they haven’t spoken to in years, wishing they had reached out sooner.

Friendship is one of life’s greatest emotional supports. Small check-ins, reunions, or messages can mean everything. People don’t regret making the effort—they regret not making it soon enough.

5. They Regret Not Living Their Own Truth

Living to please others is a common thread among the dying. Hospice workers note that many people followed someone else’s expectations—their parents’, society’s, or even their partner’s—and ended up living lives that didn’t fully reflect who they were.

From staying in the wrong job to hiding their identity, this regret often surfaces with pain and longing. In the end, being true to yourself matters more than being accepted by everyone else. Authenticity is one of the few things people never regret.

6. They Wish They’d Lived More in the Moment

So many people spend their lives waiting for the weekend, the next vacation, or retirement—only to discover they missed the present. Hospice workers often hear patients say they wish they had slowed down, appreciated the little things, and truly lived in the now.

The smell of coffee. The sound of laughter. A quiet evening at home. These are the moments people remember. And often, it’s only in dying that they realize how sacred those ordinary moments really were.

7. They Regret Holding Grudges

Grudges are heavy, and at the end of life, many people wish they’d let go sooner. Hospice staff describe moments where people spend their final hours trying to contact estranged family members or expressing sorrow for long-held bitterness.

Forgiveness is more for the giver than the receiver. It creates peace, even if the other person never asks for it. When it’s too late to make amends, the pain of unfinished healing lingers.

8. They Wish They’d Taken Better Care of Their Bodies

Physical health may not seem like a priority when you’re young, but it becomes all-consuming when it’s failing. Hospice workers often hear patients say they regret not quitting smoking, eating healthier, or moving their bodies more when they could.

Your body is the vessel through which you experience life, and when it breaks down, your world shrinks. Small, consistent care pays off. The dying often wish they’d respected their health earlier, not just when it became a crisis.

9. They Regret Not Making Time for Joy

Many people spend so much of their lives being “productive” that they forget to just be happy. Hospice workers share that some of the most surprising regrets involve not having more fun—laughing, dancing, creating, or playing.

Joy isn’t trivial. It’s essential. People don’t lie on their deathbeds wishing they’d cleaned more or earned more. They wish they’d laughed more, celebrated more, and embraced moments of spontaneous joy.

10. They Wish They’d Spoken Up for Themselves

From staying silent during unfair treatment to avoiding conflict to keep the peace, the dying often express sorrow for not standing up for themselves. Hospice workers hear stories of swallowed opinions, unvoiced boundaries, and lost chances for self-advocacy.

Speaking your truth is a form of self-respect. Even if it doesn’t change the outcome, it changes your relationship with yourself. At the end, people rarely regret being honest—but they do regret staying quiet.

Start Living the Way You Want to Be Remembered

Hospice workers have the unique and humbling task of witnessing life’s final lessons in real time. The common thread? Most regrets come from what wasn’t done, not what was. Don’t wait for permission or the “right time” to live with intention, love, and boldness.

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The post When Regret Comes Too Late: 10 Lessons From Hospice Workers appeared first on Everybody Copy Link

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Friday, November 24, 2023

Tips for Living Day to Day (DD and SS)


I've been accused a few times of living in the past. But actually, I live in the present...sometimes Enjoying things like music from the past. (Sure beats listening to rap and Tsylor Swift.) But I try to cherish every day and Dick Dale, one of my music heros , said it best:

'Don’t worry about yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow,” Dick Dale told California Rocker, an online music publication, in 2015. “Don’t worry about yesterday because it’s used. It’s either good or it leaves you feeling bad. And don’t waste time or energy worrying about tomorrow. I could have a stroke and be dead. That’s why they call it the present. It’s a present.” 🎁 Words that REALLY have meaning today and that we should ALWAYS cherish. Thank you Dick Dale ❤️
(And happy thanksgiving)



I've been accused a few times of living in the past. But actually, I live in the present...sometimes Enjoying things like music from the past. (Sure beats listening to rap and Tsylor Swift.) But I try to cherish every day and Dick Dale, one of my music heros , said it best:

'Don’t worry about yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow,” Dick Dale told California Rocker, an online music publication, in 2015. “Don’t worry about yesterday because it’s used. It’s either good or it leaves you feeling bad. And don’t waste time or energy worrying about tomorrow. I could have a stroke and be dead. That’s why they call it the present. It’s a present.” 🎁 Words that REALLY have meaning today and that we should ALWAYS cherish. Thank you Dick Dale ❤️
(And happy thankshlgiving


You know. . . Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of
 the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young,
 and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and  I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I
 have glimpses of how it was back then, and of all my hopes and dreams.
 But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How
 did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I
 remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those
 older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I
 could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
 But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see a great change...Not like the ones that I  remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.
 Each day now, I find that just getting a  shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I
 don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!
 And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth... it's over. A  new adventure will begin!
 Yes, I have regrets. There are things I  wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's
 all in a lifetime.
 So,  if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure  whether this is
 your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of
 your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your
 loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all
 the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
 "Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after you. Make it a fantastic one............................
LIVE IT WELL!
 ENJOY TODAY!
 DO SOMETHING FUN!
 BE HAPPY!
 HAVE A GREAT DAY........................SS

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Feeling Old?

........I am feeling old (At my age flowers scare me) and tired.......

A is for arthritis,
B is for bad back,
C is for the chest pains. Corned Beef? Cardiac?
D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight--can't read that top line.
F is for fissures and fluid retention
G is for gas (which I'd rather not mention--
and not to forget other gastrointestinal glitches)
H is high blood pressure
I is for itches and lots of incisions
J is for joints, that now fail to flex
L is for libido--what happened to sex?
Wait! I forgot about K!
K is for my knees that crack all the time
(But forgive me, I get a few lapses in my
Memory from time to time)
N is for nerve (pinched) and neck (stiff) and neurosis
O is for osteo-for all the bones that crack
P is for prescriptions, that cost a small fortune
Q is for queasiness. Fatal or just the flu?
Give me another pill and I'll be good as new!
R is for reflux--one meal turns into two
S is for sleepless nights,
counting fears on how to pay my medical bills!
T is for tinnitus--I hear bells in my ears
and the word 'terminal' also rings too near
U is for urinary and the difficulties that flow (or not)
V is for vertigo, as life spins by
W is worry, for pains yet unfound
X is for X-ray--and what one might find
Y is for year (another one, I'm still alive).
Z is for zest
For surviving the symptoms my body's deployed,
And keeping twenty-six doctors gainfully employed.....

Ss

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Monday, November 1, 2021

Will Rogers’- Words of Wisdom:


 

Will Rogers’- Words of Wisdom:

 

Will Rogers, who died in a 1935 plane crash in Alaska with bush pilot Wiley Post, was one of the greatest political country/cowboy sages this country has ever known.

Some of his sayings -

1.   Never slap a man who's chewing tobacco.  

2.   Never kick a cow chip on a hot day.  

3.   There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither works.  

4.   Never miss a good chance to shut up.  

5.   Always drink upstream from the herd.  

6.   If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.  

7.   The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put it back into your pocket.  

8.   There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves.

9.   Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.  

10.   If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.

11.   Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier'n puttin' it back.  

12.   After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.

The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

 

ABOUT GROWING OLDER...  

First ~      Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Second ~   The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Third ~   Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me; I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way, and some of the roads weren't paved.  

Fourth ~   When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.  

Fifth ~   You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.  

Sixth ~   I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.  

Seventh ~   One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it's such a nice change from being young.  

Eighth ~   One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.  

Ninth ~   Being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable and relaxed.  

Tenth ~  Long ago, when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today, it’s called golf.

And, finally ~   If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you're old

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sunday, August 22, 2021

Slow Dance

Slow
Dance

This
is a poem
written by a teenager with cancer.
She wants to   see how many
people get her poem.
It is quite the poem
Please pass it   on.

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital.
It was sent by a medical doctor -
Make sure to read what is in the closing statement
AFTER THE POEM.

SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask, "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short
The music won't last.
Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his   sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say, 'Hi'
You'd better slow down.
Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last..
When you run so fast to get somewhere,
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower Hear the music
Before the song is over.
------------
--------
FORWARDED
E-MAILS ARE TRACKED TO OBTAIN THE TOTAL COUNT.
Dear All:
PLEASE pass this mail on to everyone you know -
even to those you don't know!
It is the request of a special girl, who will soon leave this world   due to cancer.
This young girl has 6 months left to live,
and as her dying wish, she wanted to send a letter telling everyone to
live their life to the fullest, since she never will.

She'll never make it to prom, graduate from high school,
or get married and have a family of her own.
By your sending this to as many people as
possible, you can give her and her family a
little hope, because with every name
that this is sent to, the American
Cancer Society will donate 3 cents per name
to her treatment and recovery
plan. One guy sent this to 500 people! So I know
that we can at least send it to 5 or 6.
It's not even your money, just your time!
PLEASE PASS ON AS A LAST REQUEST.

1046 5
 

 
 
Please check this out on Snopes.com.
Show quoted text

Monday, March 22, 2021

Reagan was Prophetic





 Remember This Guy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too many people have forgotten, and too many don't even have a clue.  His quotes are right up there with other famous quote makers like Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain and Will Rogers..

 

 

 

 


"Socialism only works

in two places:

Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it."

-Ronald Reagan  

'Here's my strategy on

the Cold War:

We win, they lose.'

- Ronald Reagan 

'The most terrifying words

In the English language are:

I'm from the government

and I'm here to help.'

-Ronald Reagan 

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.'

-Ronald Reagan 

'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the US. was too strong.

- Ronald Reagan 

'I have wondered at

times about what the

Ten Commandments would

have looked like if Moses

had run them through

the U.S. Congress..

-Ronald Reagan 

'The taxpayer:

That's someone who works

For the federal government

but doesn't have to take the

civil service examination'

- Ronald Reagan 

'Government is like a baby:

An alimentary canal with a

big appetite at one end and

no sense of responsibility

at the other'

- Ronald Reagan 

'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a

government program.'

- Ronald Reagan 

'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession.

I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first'

- Ronald Reagan 

'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:

If it moves, tax it.

If it keeps moving, regulate it.

And if it stops moving,

subsidize it'

- Ronald Reagan 

'Politics is not a bad profession

If you succeed,

there are many rewards;

if you disgrace yourself,

you can always write a book.'

- Ronald Reagan 

'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'

- Ronald Reagan 

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under.'

-Ronald Reagan

 

 

 

 

 

 


Sunday, January 24, 2021

Prayer for those whove left us

 I feel a warmth around me

like your presence is so near,

And I close my eyes to visualize

your face when you were here,

I endure the times we spent together

and they are locked inside my heart,

For as long as I have those memories

we will never be apart,

Even though we cannot speak anymore

my voice is always there,

Because every night before I sleep

I have you in my prayer.


THAT'S IT, MY FRIENDS........GOOD NIGHT