Bronnie Ware - Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing

This book had a profound effect on my life.

DR. WAYNEW. DYER

Also by Bronnie Ware:

Your Year for Change:
52 Reflections for Regret-Free Living

Bloom:
A Tale of Courage, Surrender,
and Breaking Through Upper Limits

Copyright Bronnie Ware, 2019

Published in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au

Published in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com

Published in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk

Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Cover Design by Leanne Siu Anastasi

Typeset by Bookhouse, Sydney

Edited by Margie Tubbs

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews without prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice nor prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for physical fitness and good health. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

ISBN: 9781401956004

Digital ISBN: 9781401956011

22 21 20 19 4 3 2 1

1st edition, August 2019

Printed in Australia by McPhersons Printing Group

For Mum and Gran,
whose unwavering love and
support have propelled my
discovery of courage.

The wind howled with fierce determination outside a tiny cottage in the Blue Mountains of Australia. With a cup of tea nearby I was cosy inside, typing away happily while absorbed in my writing. It was 2009 and the second article for my newly formed blog, Inspiration and Chai was unravelling. The article was called Regrets of the Dying. It flowed completely of its own accord, without hesitation, simply drawing upon powerful, clear memories. For the previous eight years I had repeatedly been offered lessons and life-changing insights, while sitting by the bedsides of dying people as their carer and listener.

The article spread like wildfire to all corners of the globe. After numerous requests, I found the courage to share the wisdom in more depth. To do so, I had to tell my own story and how the regrets of dying people had changed me. My real-life journey into regret-free living was an example of lifes challenges. There was no point just sharing the regrets. I had done that in the article. When some of my dying patients had insisted I share their message onward, they meant so others could fully grasp the anguish and heartache that dying with regrets causes. They wanted me to help others find the courage they had lacked.

As I set about creating my own regret-free life while still caring for dying people and afterwards, I came to understand just how difficult it is to let go of all that stops us being our absolute best self. Living regret-free is not something achievable in a flash. It is created by an ongoing day-to-day process of conscious decisions, loving actions to ourselves, and a whole bucket full of courage. It is my heartfelt intention and hope that this book assists you find that courage for change.

This memoir is now in 31 languages and has been read by more than a million people worldwide, with a film in the pipeline. The importance of the message is clearly one that resonates with people from all walks of life. After all, we are all going to die, and none of us wishes to do so with regrets. In our heart, we want to live our best life, which also includes daring to be our best self.

As Ive watched this books journey unfold and have evolved further in myself, as we do over time, I have felt very blessed to be the messenger for this tale. Even more so, I am incredibly grateful to have witnessed the reality of death and regret. Facing this has given me courage on many occasions, when life felt too hard. Finding the courage to act or surrender will never be as painful as lying on a deathbed with regrets.

I am very grateful to my publisher, Hay House, for giving me the opportunity for this second edition. The Top Five Regrets of the Dying was originally published independently in its raw form, after being rejected by 25 publishers. Once it caught its wave, there was no time to edit, prior to it being professionally published. Whatever magic this book originally had was independent of any composition or grammatical rules. I simply wrote as I would to a friend, sharing my tale and those of the patients I came to love.

This edition, therefore, is not edited in a traditional way, following formulas or rules. It is simply a tidy-up of grammar and a tightening of the message in parts. My life and writing style have evolved in the ten years since that first wintery experience in the Blue Mountains. So it is lovely to be able to bring a little of the essence of how my own journey unfolded to this second edition, while not losing the power of the message from the dear people I cared for.

While this book continues to reach into ever-increasing numbers of hands and hearts around the world, I have noticed it gives people permission to make changes and find immense courage. It allows tears to flow and hearts to lift. It supports forgiveness and teaches kindness. It also reinforces just how sacred and precious life is.

May the remainder of your life be changed in the best of ways through the sharing of this tale.

With loving kindness,

Bronnie

I cant find my teeth. I cant find my teeth. The familiar call flowed into the room as I attempted to have my scheduled afternoon off. Placing the book I was reading on the bed, I wandered out into the living area.

As expected, Agnes was standing there looking both confused and innocent, smiling her gummy grin. We both burst out laughing. The joke should have worn thin by now, as the misplacement of her teeth happened at least every few days. But it never did.

I am sure you do this just to get me back out here with you, I laughed, as I began todays search in now familiar places. Outside snow continued to fall, enhancing the cosiness and warmth of the cottage. Shaking her head, Agnes was adamant. Not at all, darling! I took them out before my nap but when I awoke, I couldnt find them anywhere. Other than her memory loss, she was as bright as a button.

Agnes and I came to be living together four months earlier, when I had responded to an advertisement for a live-in companion. As an Australian in England, I had been doing a live-in job in a pub to keep a roof over my head. It had been fun and some lovely friendships were made with other staff and the locals. Bar skills were definitely handy and had enabled me to start work immediately on arrival in the country. So for that, I was grateful. But it came time for a change.

The two years prior to going overseas were spent living on a tropical island, as picturesque as any postcard could ever portray. After more than a decade of working in the banking industry, I had needed to try an existence that released me from the Monday to Friday, nine to five grind.

One of my sisters and I ventured to an island in North Queensland for a holiday, to gain our scuba diving certificates. While she cracked onto our diving instructor, which was of course very beneficial for us in passing our tests, I climbed a mountain on the island. While sitting on an enormous boulder in the sky, smiling, I had an epiphany. I wanted to live on an island.