A palliative care nurse had put together five regrets of the dying.  These were the five top regrets voiced to her by patients who were about to die.

1.  Number one: I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
2.  Number two: I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
3.  Number three: I wish I had let myself be happier.

4.  Number four: I wish I'd had the courage to express my true self.
5.  And number five: I wish I'd lived a life true to my dreams, instead of what others expected of me."

really makes you think this one, 2 and 5 I gotta work on  :)
thanks for posting
Paul.

I had a sister who died of cancer. Personally I think she worked herself to death. I think number one really applies to her.

I do take care not to work too hard. I take care of myself. I could work a little more on number three: let myself be happier.

Thank you for sharing this, Doc.

I'm at work now, so I guess I'm not working too hard. ;)

Live long Recoverer. Live prosperous.  ;D

   I can relate to that list. Six years ago I wanted to die and took an overdose. Ever since then, I've been living to fulfill everything on that list. I'm very happy now and although I still look forward to going to the other side, I make the most of my life here all of the time. I am glad that God gave me a chance to live beyond that stupid day in my life and many good things have happened since then.

Ralph

Darn, I was so sure "I wish I had eaten more chocolate" would be on that list. So sure.

And chocolate is vegetarian. Just like beer and whisky.

hi i need to work on 3 4 5  havent got that yet,the three things i just cant seem to do as much as i try,cant seem to get it together at the moment,but i know i will do one day.i find these three things so hard,i just need to love myself since my divorce ,well so ive been told by my councellor.

love god bless love juditha xxx

Yes, it can be hard to love yourself. But at least you have taken the step to divorce. You should compliment yourself on that. And be proud you did that.
I know you can call yourself all kind of names for waiting too long with it, but at least you have done it and now you are in the new phase of your life.
Everything goes step by step. Nobody can surpass any steps. You are only human Juditha.

I love you,
God bless,

Mogy

i mogenblue thankyou for these words,made me realise how far i have come. i love you to  god bless juditha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlQPnNy6JR0

this is my song i listen to each day

On letting yourself be happier: sometimes it's not so easy. One of the little-known effects of mold exposure is depression. It's so easy to blame the victim when depression occurs, because others can't find the reason for it. But if it's biochemical, there won't be a "reason" other than the victim is being poisoned.

I got away from mold and my depression dissipated, but I find I still have some habits to correct. I started hitting tennis balls against a bang board to get a little exercise, and after I started to get a little better at it, found myself chastising myself for errors. A little light bulb went on, and I said to myself, "Why am I punishing myself during an activity I'm doing for fun?" And I decided that from that point onwards I will not change mood when an error occurs. That part, I have control of, and it is contributing to my happiness.

Hey Matthew, Thanks for pointing out the list.  I think I take care of those 5 very well, but for myself I'd add that I want to love myself more.  I do love myself, but I also know how hard my emotions are on me.  I suppose this falls into the "happier" category. 

It would be interesting, if communication were ever truly open (i.e. Bruce's "telephone") to get a take on "five regrets of the dead" vs. the dying.  When one is dying one is in the physical world.  Some may have made contact with the hereafter.  I find it illuminating in that they are trying to deal with what is "really important" to them -  one of the reasons why the nurse heard "I worked too hard." 

If someone works 14 hour days, how much interaction can they have with their family?  How much more would they have liked to have done or said?  Was chasing the almighty dollar worthwhile?

Vicky, the loving yourself part is a tricky one.  I think it necessary, but for me, it is sometimes difficult to sort out my ego from myself.  I think after a long life, many of us are supposed to deconstruct the ego, to become comfortable with our true selves.  I don't see this as a void or loss of personality, but quite the opposite; coming into one's own.  Judging from your posts and your insight/writings, sounds to me like you are doing just fine.  Just my two cents.

Best,

Matthew

I agree that it is important to deconstruct the ego and become comfortable with your true self. But if you have deconstructed it and got closer to your true self there is nothing wrong with being happy with it. God wants us to be happy, right? So finding happiness in your true self seems very legitimate to me. But it is not always that easy in our current society.

If you are smart enough you will find ways to get a little happier all the time. Small steps at a time.

I too agree about the separation of ego.  And Matthew, I agree and get what you're saying.  It's not about having to lose your personality.  Like, there are times I can find myself suddenly focused on and upset about something and I have to stop and ask myself, is this really worth wasting energy on?  At things like that I'll tell myself to instead spend my thoughts and energy on something good, loving, or what makes me happy.  It's the same things as throwing away junk you don't really need or want instead of keeping it around to clutter your house.  It seems to always be something to work on, but a necessary part of true growth and comfort in one's true self. 

Thanks for your compliments.   :)

The small things in life are the best things in life,
well thats what I think anyway,
keeping it simple.
Paul. :)