Seeing people in their final moments gives the nurse a big insight into people’s regrets and joys, and she shared them for us to learn from

None of us can truly know how we will feel in our final moments until the time comes—though we all hope to be as comfortable and pain-free as possible. While that remains uncertain, a nurse has shared the insights she gained from watching hundreds of people take their last breaths, offering a window into what really matters in life.

Listening to what people cherish, regret, or long for at the very end can help the rest of us understand what deserves more attention while we still have time. And not to sound too morbid, but none of us knows how long we have—so reflecting sooner rather than later may be wise.

Laura M is a nurse who cares for people in their final days and weeks. Over time, she began recording their last words, calling these final phases of life “the quiet hour.”

Here is what she discovered…

Loving more and differently

One of Laura’s patients was 92-year-old World War II veteran George, who had not spoken to his brother in four decades after an argument. Near the end, George reflected on that choice and said: “I won the argument, but I lost a lifetime.”

Laura later told Everyday Health that she realized people don’t die wishing they had been tougher. Instead, they wish they had been kinder.

Saving joy for later

A retired engineer shared with Laura that he became wealthy not out of ambition but out of fear—fear of becoming poor. He admitted: “I was so scared of being poor that I became rich in fear.”

But that fear kept him from ever truly enjoying the wealth he accumulated.

The lesson Laura took from his words was simple: there may not be a tomorrow, so don’t postpone happiness.

Forgiveness

Every life includes moments when we are wronged—it’s normal. But how we carry those experiences can stay with us, even until the end.

Laura recalled one woman who expressed the burden she still carried in her final moments, saying: “I can’t die angry.”

When the woman’s estranged son arrived, she forgave him. Her breathing immediately became more restful, and she passed away about 30 minutes later.

‘The best things in life are free’

One former CEO admitted to Laura that he had made a major mistake by failing to appreciate the beauty around him. He said: “I mistook being busy for being alive.”

When Laura asked patients what they missed most, many mentioned small, simple things:

“the sound of birds,”
“my dog’s breath in the morning,”
“the smell of rain.”

Their answers were a reminder to find joy in the little things around us every day.

Regret

Most of us have things we wish had turned out differently, but one patient shared a very specific regret with Laura: “I didn’t regret failing—I regretted never auditioning.”

Their message was clear: even if you don’t succeed, you should still try. Otherwise, you may always wonder what could have been.

Presence

In today’s world, we are more distracted than ever, and that makes it easy to miss what’s unfolding right in front of us. How can we enjoy our life if our mind is always elsewhere?

One father summed up his remorse: “I was always somewhere else—even when I was home.”

Being authentic

Living authentically is difficult, but deeply important. Pretending to be someone you’re not was one of the most common deathbed regrets Laura encountered.

One woman, removing her wig, expressed her relief and said: “Finally, I’m done pretending.”

Source: unilad.com