If I Found Out Tonight That Today Were My Last Day To Live…

For some reason I was reflecting on my day ahead of me today and what I would say about it at the end of the day, if I found out it was my last day to live.  Would I be proud of what I had done, would I say, “Yes, that was an important way to live out the last day of my life,” or would I have regrets about it?

This reminded me of stories I have read about people who realize that their death is eminent and in their last words speak out common regrets.

I’ll post one of my favorite retelling of those regrets, as told by Bonnie Ware, writer, singer/songwriter, speaker. If I were to take her five top regrets and use them now to set the bar to judge every moment of my day, this is what I would say at the end of my last day, today or any day.

I am glad I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

I am glad I didn’t work to hard.

I am glad I had the courage to express my feelings.

I am glad I stayed in touch with my friends and stayed close to my family and loved ones.

I am glad I let myself be happy.

As I read these, it doesn’t seem like too tall an order to fill today.  I can do this and when I die, I won’t have the common regrets.  Who knows, maybe I will regret living the life I wanted, not working hard enough, expressing myself too much, spending too much time with my friends and family, and find out happiness is overrated, he, he.

But seriously, I hope I don’t need anymore clues from dying people.  I think I got it.