At the end of the previous post, we spoke a bit about regrets. Personally, I feel this is one of my biggest fears. To wake up one day when it’s too late and understand that I let my life go by without really living it, and without doing anything about it.

It is still on my wish list, but there is a book from Bronnie Ware called “The top five regrets of the dying”. In this book, the author visits various establishments to talk with those who are nearly departing this world’s journey to embark on another one. Her findings are astonishing yet sad at the same time: we all seem to have the same regrets.

Here is the list that was drafted, in order of “popularity”:

• travel more
• take better care of one’s health
• learn another language
• plan well for retirement
• live a life true to oneself, not others expectations
• work less hard
• courage to express one’s feelings
• stay in touch with friends more
• let oneself be happier
• honor dreams
• reduce the burden
• value one’s life and feelings
• value those you love

I remember reading this list, and thinking to myself that it is sadly very accurate. And I am sure you are thinking the same too as you are reading it. Most of the above, can be avoided by taking action. By being truth to oneself. By stopping to realize what’s important in life. By pursuing one’s dreams. By being brave to feel and speak. By giving yourself the right to be happy.

Yet…it’s hard, isn’t it?

We keep postponing everything because of one reason or the other. We don’t have money, we don’t have time, we don’t have the resources, we are scared, we are worried to lose something or someone, we don’t want to be hurt, we don’t know how to do it, and so on. And, we are so miserable.

I came to a point in my life where I realized that I was not happy with how things are going. I felt that I haven’t started living life at all. I have been saying this for a while now, and I hated the way it was making me feel. I wanted to feel in control of my life again, but more than anything…I wanted to feel happy, content. So I started making a list. A list of things that I wasn’t happy about, a list of things I wanted to change, a list of things I wanted to do, and than I started to act on it, step by step, one by one.

• I started this blog, to counteract my need for something to be passionate about.
• I spoke to my boss, to find my confidence again in my new professional role.
• I started doing double work outs 5-6 times a week, to improve my body image and self confidence.
• I made a plan for traveling, ready to go for when the restrictions ease up.
• I have a pension plan and life insurance, to guarantee piece of mind in the future.
• I make sure I meet friends 2-3 times a week, and keep in touch as much as I can.
• I make sure I make time for those things that matter the most to me.

These are just some examples of points I have acted upon lately. If you look at them closely, they tackle a lot of those life regrets which I have outlined before. It could be a coincidence but to me, it wasn’t.

I am nowhere near finished to go through my list of goals, but I have started and I am sticking to it. I feel my mood has improved. I feel that I have more energy. I feel happier. I feel I am making progress.

I think the below post that I found a few days back, summarizes well.