A hospice nurse in the U.S., Julie McFadden, has been with about 100 patients during their final moments.
She says many people believe they’ll regret not traveling or spending enough time with loved ones when they’re dying... Continue reading here ▶
However, in her experience, most people actually regret something else: not appreciating their health when they had it.
McFadden spent eight years working in an intensive care unit before moving to hospice care.
She mentions that in the U.S., having more money often means a more comfortable end-of-life experience, because dying patients who choose to stay at home need full-time care, which can be expensive unless family members stop working.
When patients talk about their final thoughts, McFadden says their biggest regret is not valuing their good health until it was gone.
Hearing this so often has led her to practice gratitude daily. She keeps a nightly list of small things she’s thankful for, such as her ability to see, walk, and simply feel the sunshine.
