WOW Word-Of-the-Week #401: Friends

April 10, 2012 by · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #401: Friends 

Friends – people you know well and regard with affection and trust.

How many “true” friends would you say you have? How often do you spend time with them? Have you ever missed times with your friends because you felt work was more important?

This is the final WOW featuring excerpts from Bronnie Ware’s book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing.”

“4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Happy Family & Friends!

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”

This week’s focus is on friends. In case you didn’t know it, we were put on this earth to love and be loved! Have you stayed in contact with your old friends? When was the last time you laughed out loud? Or how about the last time you had some silliness?

Reader Responses

“I have always made it a point to remember the anniversaries and birthdays and special events of family members, but friends. When the younger son of my best friend was married recently, my friend reminded me that whenever I visited their home I always brought a Hershey’s chocolate bar for both boys. I actually had forgotten that I had done that over time, but when I was reminded of it I was happy. Sometimes we forget that we do those little things, but those close to us do remember. You mentioned what it is that people value on their deathbeds. I remember hearing Coach Al McGuire say in his last interview that elderly people who are near the end don’t want flowers or sweaters. They want our time. Because they know they don’t have much time remaining to them. That is so true. I make a point of staying in touch with my friends, and I have a few close ones. As I mentioned in a previous post, I don’t want to look back with regret. We all have too many of those in our lives anyway. Great word, Susan. Thanks for the reminder. ” – “Warrior” Joe