Reflection: If you’ve been following some of the work I’ve shared over the last year with respect to Spark & Malaise, you’ll recall me mentioning Bonnie Ware’s findings on the regrets people express near the ends of their lives.

In her research, the number one regret Ware heard repeatedly was that ‘people wished they’d had the courage to live a life true to themselves instead of the lives that others expected of them.’

That top finding is echoed in more recent research by Kathy Caprino.

In Caprino’s survey of those at an earlier stage in their lives (middle age and mid-career), she found the following top five regrets:

1. I wish I hadn’t listened to other people about what I should study and pursue. (Sounds familiar to Ware’s finding, doesn’t it?)
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and missed out on so much.
3. I wish I hadn’t let my fears stop me from making change.
4. I wish I had learned how to address toxic situations and people.
5. I wish I hadn’t let myself become so trapped around money.

Action: With today’s potential life span of up to 90 years or beyond, mid life is pretty much anywhere between 20 and 70 years of age.

If you’re somewhere in that age group, as you read through Capruino’s list, which of those regrets tugged on your conscience or elbowed you in the side?

How might you respond?

What’s one step you could take or one choice you could make today that would put you on a path to more delights and fewer regrets?

Quotes Of The Week: 

[bctt tweet=”I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. – Lucille Ball” username=””]

My biggest regret could be summed up in one word, and that’s procrastination. – Ron Cooper

Resource Of The Week: To read the full article by Kathy Caprino, see The Top Five Regrets of Midlife Professionals.

Have You Shared Your Moments?  Last week, as part of the Precious Moments message, I invited each of you to share photos of your special sights and scenes.

Thanks to the first 20+ folks who sent along their contributions. They’re delightful!

You still have time to take a fresh photo or dig a few images from your personal archives and send them my way.

The contributions received by November 18^th will be rolled into a ‘Moments’ slide show/video to share with all of you.

Send your contributions along to pat@patkatz.com with the subject line: “Moments”. I’m excited to shine a light on the moments of your lives.