Regrets of the Dying
“Regrets of the Dying,” by Bonnie Ware
What This Is 🤔
A short, powerful reflection drawn from years of palliative care, capturing the most common regrets people express at the very end of life. Regrets of the Dying distills profound human wisdom into a handful of simple, unsettling truths about how we live—and what we tend to wish we had done differently.
Rather than theory or advice, this reading offers clarity born from proximity to mortality.
What It’s For 🎯
This reading helps readers:
Reflect on what truly matters before it’s too late
Notice the gap between values and lived choices
Reconsider assumptions about success, work, and happiness
Strengthen courage around authenticity and emotional honesty
Re-center relationships as a core life priority
It is especially relevant for moments of transition, reflection, or values work—personal or professional.
What You’ll Find Inside 🧰
The reading surfaces five recurring regrets voiced by people nearing death, including:
Not living authentically
Working too much
Suppressing feelings
Letting friendships fade
Postponing happiness
Each regret is grounded in lived experience, not abstraction, and points directly toward choices we can still make while alive.
How to Use It 🧭
This reading works best as:
A short but deep reflective prompt
A catalyst for journaling or group dialogue
A companion to values, meaning, or purpose exercises
A grounding pause in leadership or life design courses
It is designed to be read slowly—and felt.
Key Takeaways 💡
Life is shaped by choices made gradually, not all at once
Authenticity requires courage long before crisis
Relationships matter more than status or achievement
Emotional honesty protects both health and connection
Happiness is less a destination than a daily choice
Pro Tips 🧠
Read it when you’re not rushed
Journal immediately after—don’t overthink
Ask what feels unfinished now, not later
Use it to guide one small, concrete change