Your children will see what you’re all about by what you live rather than what you say. ~ Wayne Dyer
Recently, I had the opportunity and privilege to read a beautiful book, “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”, by Bronnie Ware. I joined Hay House’s book nook blogger community and chose this book to review. http://www.hayhousebooknook.com/PBook/BrowseReviews
As I read her book, which I absolutely loved, I was reminded not only of the regrets of those who were dying, but of regrets that we often carry throughout our lives.
The top five regrets of the dying were…
- I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
- I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
- I wish I had let myself be happier.
In her book, Bronnie reflects “We all will die, but this work was reminding me we all have a choice too, on how to live in the meantime.”
How many times have we said or done something that we later regretted? How we live our lives is a choice. How we parent our children is a choice. When we are awake and aware, we have the ability to choose how we want to live our lives… what a gift! Imagine living and parenting intentionally. Everyday is a new day and an opportunity to make another choice.
Children are so wise and are our teachers…if we only watch and listen. They truly know the beauty of living in the present moment, without regret. How often do you hear your child express regrets about wishing they hadn’t “played so hard”?
However it is possible for our children, as they grow older, to express some regrets that Bronnie discovered.
What if our grown children were to express…
- I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
- I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
The lessons learned from the dying can have a profound effect on our parenting choices. How many times do we impose our own wishes on our children? We often think that we know what’s “best” for our child”. Is that really true?
Do our children have the courage to express their feelings or do they believe that their feelings won’t be heard or accepted?
Lessons from the regrets of the dying, gives each of us an opportunity to live a full life…and a life without regrets.
How will we choose to live and how will we choose to parent?
What choices will you make for yourself and your child?
As you reflect upon your life, what might your regrets be?
Living a life without regrets is possible…it is our choice.
