She lost her sister to cancer at 49. Now she’s begging the world to not put off their bucket list

Life is uncertain, but who would realize that more than a person lying on their deathbed with their thoughts running wild, pondering “I should’ve done that when I had the time.” When the BIG TALK — which goes by the username @makebigtalk on Instagram — spoke to a British woman in the second half of her life, she shared a heartbreaking anecdote from her past, which inspires us to check off all the things we have on our bucket list — before it's too late.

Kalina Verman — who manages the BIG TALK — came across a British woman at the beach 2 years ago, and asked her a question whose answer still “echoes” in her heart. She asked, “What’s a brave or difficult choice you are glad you made?” The woman replied by sharing about how a few years ago, she had finally gotten her dream job after seeking it for over 5 years, but right then, her younger sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given only a few weeks to live. Without much thought or regret, she gave up the job to spend time with her and care for her during her final days. However, a conversation they had on her deathbed led to a life-altering realization.

"She was just 49 when she died and she, literally on her deathbed, listed all the things she hadn't done," the woman said. It made her want to live life to the fullest, bringing her into the “do it now” philosophy. She suggested, “If you’ve got a bucket list, do it now. Don’t wait.” This video speaks to all those people who have been delaying their trips, not meeting their family enough, or hanging out with friends at least once a week, and putting love in the backseat — just do it now! She concluded her monologue, “Too many people put things off. Take advantage of being alive today and don’t put things off. Do it now.” Indeed, wisdom about how to live life often catches up with us once it's too late — however, it is important to learn from the mistakes of others and modify things while you still have a chance.

The woman helped us learn why it is essential to chase your goals while you are young and able — because no one knows when life will bid you adieu, and you'll have to leave with regrets instead of enriching experiences. A study by Stanford Medicine shares that about 91.2 percent of people have a bucket list, while Santa Zascerinska and others confirm in their research that the idea of having a bucket list does not originate from the anxiety of death but the limitations of life. It suggests that humans love to set goals they want to achieve before they pass, as it motivates them and gives life meaning.

After watching the emotional video, @intricatelysimple1 shared, “I lost my brother who was 49… and I walked away from my job of 20+ years when I lost my parents prior to this. Thank you for sharing her and her sister’s story,” while @theecocoagoddess wrote something worth remembering: “I can't remember every job I have had. I can remember memories with my loved ones.” Finally, @rachlobster expressed, “A job is just a job — that’s what I’m trying to make myself believe — at the end of our lives, it will be the people closest to us who matter most.”

You can follow BIG TALK (@makebigtalk) on Instagram for more inspiring content.