Be You!

From The Guardian February 1, 2012 (Top 5 regrets of the dying)

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying." Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again." Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me (most common regret).
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.

My Message

I could write about each one of these points, but want to focus on the most common regret "the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me". We are all born in this world with our own unique DNA, our own unique personalities, looks and of course ambitions and dreams. If this is the case why do we spend so much of our time living out other peoples desires and wishes. We are all destined for greatness and the minute we start living a life that we think others see fit, we go completely off course, which leads to future regret as mentioned above. This life is yours, its your journey and has to be lived consciously, freely and with your own choices. Live for others but not on their terms. In fulfilling your own dreams of great goals, others benefit automatically. We are the only species on this planet who can afford to live a well-planned life of choice and discretion. If you take care to do so, you will have no regrets when you live your last breaths.

May you have an awesome week.

Darren Zwiers

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson