Given a Chance to Do It All Over Again

If You Could Live Life All Over Again, What Would Yous Do Differently?

You're lying in a bed. Maybe you're surrounded by friends and family. Possibly you're alone. Mayhap you knew information technology was coming, or possibly information technology came past total surprise. The nurse comes in with a look on her confront that tells you what you already know. She says it'll be a thing of days and it's time to prepare for what'due south ahead. And in that moment, what will run through your heed? Your children? Your best friend? The one who got away? The job of your dreams?

And if asked the question, "What would you differently?" — what would you say?

I assistance people die for a living. I work in hospice, and death has become as mutual a part of my routine as brushing my teeth or having that first cup of java to start my day. When that e'er-popular question comes up on showtime dates, happy hours, or conversations in the line at the grocery store of "What do you do for a living", the response I get is always the same. "Wow, I don't know how you do information technology. You're an affections. I could never do something like that." When I tell someone I work in end of life intendance, information technology'south nearly as if people put you on some God-similar pedestal where you suddenly y'all possess some saintly gift to deal with that one awkward and uncomfortable subject no one e'er wants to bring up.

Expiry. Dying. The end of a life.

Most people wait at me and recollect I still have a lifetime to experience the earth and all it has to offer. Sure my life has "just begun," and there'due south "a whole life ahead of me," according to what society tells us, but what I've experienced working with the terminally ill has afforded me the opportunity to see and appreciate life in a manner I never truly thought I could: That life is fleeting, and you lot only become one run a risk to do information technology right.

A hospice nurse compiled hundreds of hospice patient responses; highlighting the peak five regrets people had who were dying.

"I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."

"I wish I hadn't worked so hard."

"I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings."

"I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."

"I wish that I had let myself be happier."

Easier said than done, right?

We don't call back twice when we complain to our coworkers most some other lx-hour work week, or when we have the all-time intentions to call that friend we haven't seen in over a twelvemonth that I've lost bear upon with.

But the truth is, life doesn't come with a do-over. Information technology doesn't come up with an endless string of opportunities or a giant eraser that cleans the folio. There is no 2d hazard.

I used to look at life similar I was indestructible hurricane, having fourscore more years ahead of me to make upwards for my string of young missteps and mistakes. That's no longer the example. To me, life is no longer something I experience entitled to, however, a precious opportunity to wake upwardly and simply alive some other day as a magnificent blip in this vast universe.

Does that sound platitude? Take it for what it's worth.

Because sitting and holding the frail hand of a woman who lived xc years as she takes her last few shallow breaths, or hearing the story of how a handsome Globe War 2 vet met his sweetie walking habitation from school back in 1945, and subsequently eight children, one dwelling, and 50 wedding anniversaries, he couldn't imagine loving anyone else, or watching my father become carried away at 59 under a white sheet equally tears streamed down my confront, I came to learn that life is not a just serial of meaningless daily occurrences. There is more to living that purely existing. It's a wonderful, terrifying, incredible, impeccably imperfect journey, and yous only get a 1-way ticket. Life isn't a round-trip affair.

And so when the time comes, whether y'all are 35 and diagnosed with incurable encephalon cancer, or a hundred and two, celebrating your birthday with three generations of family and friends, and someone inquire you lot, "Would you lot do information technology all unlike" — would yous? And afterwards you inquire yourself this question, will information technology be too late? Don't let life pass you by so when they're playing the highlight reel of your life, it's totally worth watching. I know now without a doubt, mine will be.

gossparying.blogspot.com

Source: https://thoughtcatalog.com/katie-zeak/2014/10/if-you-could-live-life-all-over-again-what-would-you-do-differently/

Share this post