Patients in hospice reveal what they wish they'd pursued instead of money and success

Knowing their time is limited, many still get caught up in the rat race, chasing success over life's simple joys. Only on their deathbeds do they realize the importance of slowing down, cherishing loved ones, and savoring the moments that truly matter. Australian author and motivational speaker Matthew Kelly interviewed hospice nurses and uncovered 24 powerful regrets from those in their final days.

In his YouTube video, Kelly revealed the wishes of those nearing death, none of which involve success or material gains. They regret not spending more time with loved ones, being a "better spouse," or having more children. "I wish I hadn't spent so much time chasing the wrong things," one patient admitted. "I wish I had loved more," shared another. "I wish I had learned to express my feelings," echoed a third.

Apart from realizing the importance of being with their near and dear ones, some also regretted not prioritizing themselves. One of them admitted, "I wish I'd had the courage to just be myself," another regretted, "I wish I had discovered my purpose earlier," and there was one who remarked, "I wish I had realized earlier that happiness is a choice." These were some of the regrets that would be an eye-opener to anyone who is preventing themselves from living life to the fullest.  Patients also regretted not "living more in the moment" and "not pursuing their dreams," while there were those who wished they had these realizations about their life's "purpose" earlier.

The dying patients also regretted prioritizing other people's opinions or expectations and not speaking their minds, not until they caught on to the fact that their lives were coming to an end. "I wish I had touched more lives," said one patient. "I wish I had traveled more," yearned another. "I wish I had taken more risks" and "I wish I had made spirituality more of a priority" were some other regrets.

Speaking about these unfulfilled wishes, Kelly said, "Some people think it's morbid to think about death. I disagree. It's healthy to think about death. It puts things in perspective and reminds us what really matters. The inevitability of death should inspire us to get busy living." This video, posted two years ago, has received more than 1.3 million views as it deeply moved people on the internet who can be seen in the comments.

"It's amazing that it's completely devoid of any materialistic possessions or finances," said @notmedude. "Not one single person wished they had a better career or more money. Yet so many chasing just that and don’t see what they miss," pointed out @sfZ4M. "We always regret not doing something rather than doing something and regretting later. Life is too short to worry about the result, so we should just focus on the journey instead," remarked @Ethanlim-gh3kt. "A few years later, one more thing will be added to the list, that is, 'I wish I spent less time using my phone and did something valuable,'" quipped @super7ace.