The Top Five Regrets of the Dying – A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing is a thought-provoking 2011 book written by Bronnie Ware, an Australian author and former palliative care nurse. The book is inspired by her years of caring for patients during the final stages of their lives and the profound insights they shared in their last days.

Background

Bronnie Ware first revealed these moving reflections in her 2009 blog post titled “Regrets of the Dying.” The post resonated deeply with readers across the globe, touching millions of hearts. By 2012, her words had reached an audience of over eight million readers.
Encouraged by this overwhelming response, Ware expanded her reflections into a full-length memoir in 2012 — The Top Five Regrets of the Dying — which has since been translated into more than 27 languages, inspiring readers worldwide to live with greater purpose and authenticity.


The Five Common Regrets

Through her compassionate work, Ware discovered that many people approaching the end of their lives shared similar realizations. The most common regrets they expressed were:

  1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
    Many people realized they had lived according to the expectations of others rather than following their own dreams.

  2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
    Countless individuals regretted spending too much time on work at the cost of family moments, friendships, and personal happiness.

  3. “I wish I had the courage to express my feelings.”
    People often suppressed emotions to maintain peace with others, never realizing that honesty could have brought them freedom and deeper connections.

  4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.”
    In the rush of life, many allowed meaningful friendships to fade, realizing too late how much those relationships mattered.

  5. “I wish I had let myself be happier.”
    A surprising number admitted that happiness had always been a choice — one they failed to make due to fear, routine, or comfort zones.

Modern Reflections

Interestingly, a 2018 study supported these observations, revealing that people most often regret “ideal-related” choices — such as neglecting personal dreams or not living up to their full potential.

Bronnie Ware’s message remains timeless: the greatest wisdom often comes at the end, reminding us that it’s never too late to begin living fully, honestly, and joyfully.