Many people use these 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as days of great introspection. For many, it’s sadly the only time of the year they stop to ask the important questions that define who we are, to refine their personal mission statement and map out their goals for the coming year. My friend and colleague Charlie Savenor pointed out a very worthy book to read by Bonnie Ware a long time palliative care nurse in Australia. She spent several years caring for dying people in their homes, she listened deeply as dying patients voiced what they regretted most in life. She recently wrote a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying (more to read here huffingtonpost/bronnie-ware/top-5-regrets-of-the-dyin_b_1220965.html). The second regret she listed I wish I didnt work so hard really jumped out at me. This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their childrens youth and their partners companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. The Yamim Noriam (High Holidays) are the time to stop and pause, to reflect upon the choices we make and how we can each make better choices this year. We could all do with making more space in our lives for the people we love. Men and women alike. The New Year has just begun, make sure you make wise decisions with your time.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 01:52:46 +0000