His words showed Laura something she now believes wholeheartedly: people rarely wish they’d been harder; they often wish they’d been softer.
2. Fear Can Steal Joy
A retired engineer confided that he’d spent his entire life chasing financial security, terrified of losing everything.
“I was so afraid of being poor that I became rich in fear,” he said.
Despite all he achieved, he never learned to enjoy any of it. Safety had become his prison.
3. Forgiveness Is Freedom
One woman told Laura:
“I can’t leave this world angry.”
Her estranged son arrived that day, and she forgave him after years of distance. Laura said the woman’s whole demeanor changed—peace settling where tension had lived for so long.
4. The Best Parts of Life Are the Smallest
One former CEO told Laura he had spent years focused on productivity, deadlines, and constant motion.
“I mistook being busy for being alive,” he admitted.
When Laura asked people what they missed most, the answers were simple, almost childlike:
“The sound of birds.”
“My dog’s breath in the morning.”
“The smell of rain.”
Moments, not milestones.
5. Regret Comes From the Things You Never Tried
Over and over, Laura heard the same sentiment: people rarely regret the risks they took. They regret the ones they avoided.
As one patient said:
“I didn’t regret failing—I regretted never auditioning.”
6. Presence Is Everything
In a world overflowing with distraction, being mentally present is harder than ever. One patient told Laura something that struck her deeply:
“I was always somewhere else—even when I was home.”
The lesson was clear: a life half-lived is still a form of loss.
7. Authenticity Matters More Than Approval
Many people admitted they spent years pretending to be what others expected.
One person looked at Laura with clear relief and said:
“Finally, I’m done pretending.”
When time grows short, the desire to be real replaces the desire to be liked.
Laura’s work has taught her that the wisdom shared at the end of life isn’t about fear—it’s about clarity. It’s about recognizing what truly held value, and what never did.
If there’s one message that echoes through all her experiences, it’s this:
Don’t wait until later to live the life you wish you’d lived now.
Your turn
If you had only one lesson to share—one truth you’ve learned about living—what would it be?
Drop your thoughts below. Your words might be exactly what someone needs to hear today.