I stumbled onto a post regarding a stranger's death yesterday. A buddy who had spent many special moments with the deceased is lamenting their loss. I didn't know this deceased person, yet despite that, I found myself gazing at the post for more than a minute and pondering how the people left behind must have felt as they had to pick up the pieces.
Death has a way of making you realise how short life is. How swiftly life may be taken away—the shock doesn't go away for months. When in reality, we have a finite shelf life and constantly believe we have plenty of time.
The only certainty we ever have in life is that death will ultimately come to us all, whether we are ready or not. If you're lucky, you might get to live to a ripe old age, be surrounded by affection on a hospital bed, and truly get to say goodbye to your loved ones. The grandfather who was buried last weekend had certain regrets that were still fresh in their minds when they went away, just as this stranger had plans, objectives, and aspirations they wished to realise.
Almost every time my friend Rhesa and I discuss our aims and aspirations, she says something to the effect of "you must strive to achieve everything you can, while you can."
The fortitude to live the life that was genuine to them and not one selected for them by others was the most prevalent regret of all, according to a palliative nurse who once collected the top five regrets of the dying in a book. When someone is dying, there is a remarkable clarity that allows one to look back and see how many aspirations were left unfulfilled. Some dreams are confined because of decisions and the fear of taking chances.
Similar to my favourite phrase from Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken, "I shall be recounting this with a sigh someday years and ages hence: two paths diverged in a wood and I chose the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference in the world,".
Every day, we choose from a variety of options to see which one best fits our requirements and wants at the time. It's frequently hard to predict the outcome of a choice. We frequently find ourselves wondering what might have happened if we had made a different decision.
My main life objective has been to get at the finish line with as few regrets as I can. My decision has always been to provide as many "what if" scenarios as possible before my time on earth is up. I thus make decisions with confidence and stick to them since I am aware of how each one affects where I will end up in the end.
What is your biggest regret thus far, and what goals do you have before you pass away?
Through Yeayi Kobina
The author has worked in a variety of fields, including scriptwriting, content creation, branding and programming communications, news anchoring, and broadcast journalism. He served as the show's primary producer for TV3's popular morning programme, "Newday."