TOP 5 Regrets of People

REGRET #1: I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

Nung na-diagnose ako dati ng hyperthyroidism (December 2007), una ko agad naisip: “Paano na yung mga pangarap ko?”

Buti na lang hindi siya terminal illness, thank you Lord! At mas thankful ako ngayon dahil naka-recover ako and I have better health now.

Actually, nagkaka-abs na ‘ko, 3 na sila…

Pagiging healthy ang isa sa mga puhunan ko sa pag-abot ng aking mga pangarap. Bigyan kita ng free e-book (download mo dito >>) at health tips sa mga susunod na posts.

Sa ngayon, gusto ko munang bigyan ng boses ang mga pangarap mo:

“Hoy! Aba, anong petsa na?!
Ano, magwawalwal ka na lang forever?!
Paasa ka!!!”
– the small gentle voice of your dreams

Wag kang masyadong magpadala sa madlang people. Hindi sila ang tutupad sa mga pangarap mo… Ikaw.

REGRET #2: I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

Ay, favorite ko ‘to… Mabuhay ang mga tamad!

Alam ko, importante ang trabaho. Kailangang kumita. Pero friend, marami pang MAS importante sa buhay.

In no particular order:

• MAS IMPORTANTE #1: Yung health mo. Nasabi ko na kanina. Kaya wag kang magpakasubsob sa trabaho. Pag uwian na, uwian na. Be honda*! Pag masama ang pakiramdam, wag mong pilitin. Sulitin ang SL... Kahit wala kang sakit, mag-SL.
  *on the dot, pinalanding term for “on time.”
• MAS IMPORTANTE #0.5: Yung mga mahal mo sa buhay. Kung kailangan mo pa ng explanation, papagulpi na kita sa mga tamad kong tropa*! Aanhin mo ang success kung failed naman ang relationship mo sa mga mahahalagang tao sa buhay mo?
  *Don’t worry, hindi yun matutuloy. Magkakatamaran sila.
• MAS IMPORTANTE #0.75: Yung mga pangarap mo. Yung pangarap mo talaga ha. Baka kasi pangarap ng ibang tao para sa’yo yung ginagawa mo ngayon. Ah teka, kung empleyado ka, pangarap nga talaga ng ibang tao yan! Mag-VL ka muna. Mag-muni-muni. Alamin mo
  talaga yung para sa’yo. Kapag nalaman mo na, mag-AWOL ka na.
  …Joke lang! Kaw naman, atat ka masyadong mag-resign. Mag-transition ka slowly, gradually. Pag kaya ng palitan ng dream income mo yung job salary mo, AWOL na!

Sabi ko nga, in no particular order. 'Kaw na lang mag-decide kung ano nasa priority list mo. Pero wag mong unahin ang trabaho. Maraming MAS importante sa trabaho. Kailangan mo rin yun makita.

REGRET #3: I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

Struggling rin ako dito, friend. Ang hirap kaya mag-sabi ng “I crush you.” …Lalo na pag mahal mo na. Uyyyyyy, kinikilig.

Pero napapraktis naman yan. Kung hindi mo pa kayang maghayag ng nararamdaman mo, pusuan mo muna yung mga posts nya sa FB. Araw-arawin mo para obvious.

Seryoso, hanap ka muna ng medium o outlet para sa mga nararamdaman mo.

Ako, nagsusulat para ma-express yung mga gusto kong sabihin.

Kung verbal, wait for the right timing. Kung heated pa yung sitwasyon, wait for it to cool off. Pero wag mo rin naman masyadong patagalin, baka manlamig na kayo sa isa’t-isa.

Inner peace ang gawin mong gabay. Wait for it. Kapag kalmado ka, you can say anything in a nice way.

Example, dun sa jowa ng crush mo: “Can I crush you?”

'Di ba, gusto mo siyang patayin pero in a nice way…

REGRET #4: I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

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.

Meron akong paboritong quote about friendship: “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.”

Mabibilang mo lang sila sa daliri mo sa isang kamay. Sila yung mga taong kilala kung sino ka talaga. Yung tunay mong pagkatao ang nakikita nila, kaya hindi ka nila huhusgahan base sa mga nagawa mo.

Kaya naman sila ang kinakasama mo sa kalokohan, nilalapitan mo sa oras ng pangagailangan, at syempre, sinasabihan mo pag nagtatagumpay ka.

Kunwari may table for 5, tapos maghahanda ka mamayang gabi para i-celebrate yung katuparan ng mga pangarap mo, sino yung mga friends na iimbitahan mo?

Sila yun! The family you choose.

Tawagan mo na sila, dali!!!

REGRET #5: I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. 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.

Happiness is a choice. “Choice,” ibig sabihin may paninindigan. Otherwise, hindi yun choice, kundi “wish” lang.

Pansinin mo yung simulang statement sa lahat ng regrets of the dying: “I wish…”

Kung nababasa mo ‘to, may good news ako sa’yo: BUHAY KA PA!!!

Kung merong regrets of the dying, meron ring choices of the living.

Eto sila:

CHOICE #1: I choose to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

Wag maging plastik, hindi ka narerecycle.

CHOICE #2: I choose not to work so hard.

Petiks pa more! Wag lang magpapahuli.

CHOICE #3: I choose to express my feelings.

Murahin mo silang lahat! Last na yun… Tapos, mahalin mo na sila.

CHOICE #4: I choose to stay in touch with my friends.

Sila lang yung wag mong murahin… Mahalin mo pa sila lalo.

CHOICE #5: I choose to be happy.

...Nang paulit-ulit… Up Up - Down Down - Left Right - Left Right - B A - Select - START

It’s never too late for you, my friend.

Piliin mo yung Choices of the Living. Para walang pagsisisi sa huli.

Hanggang sa muli.

LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH!