Learning activity 1

Daniel Augusto Murillo Valderrama

Evidence: Regrets from the dying

This evidence is divided into two parts. Read the instructions below and make
sure you complete both tasks.

Fuente: SENA

A. In 2012, Bronnie Ware, an Australian palliative nurse, wrote a book called

“The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”. Read the following article about that
book and answer the questions below.

To answer questions 1 and 2, follow the grammar structure in the example:

Example: They wish they hadn’t wasted time in silly arguments.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-
of-the-dying
 Top five regrets of the dying

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the
top ones is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'. What would your biggest regret be
if this was your last day of life?

There was no mention of more sex or bungee jumps. A palliative nurse who
has counselled the dying in their last days has revealed the most common
regrets we have at the end of our lives. And among the top, from men in
particular, is 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard'.

Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in

palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She
recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which
gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called
The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of
their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned
about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says,
"common themes surfaced again and again".

Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware:

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

"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life
is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many
dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of
their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had
made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no
longer have it".

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. Women also spoke of
this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female
patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply
regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work
existence".
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".

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

"Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their
dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. 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".

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

"This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that
happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits.
The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well
as their physical lives. 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".

What's your greatest regret so far, and what will you set out to achieve or
change before you die?

Questions:

1. What is one of the most common regrets dying people, particularly men,
have?

2. When dying people are asked about their regrets, what are the most
common themes they mention?

3. In the article they mentioned that happiness is a choice. What do you think
this means?
Answers:

1. What is one of the most common regrets dying people, particularly men,
have?

the most common regrets of the dying, and one of the main ones is "I wish I had not
worked so hard". That is because they spent their whole lives working, even though
they managed to save or earn a lot of money, it reaches a point where neither You can
enjoy it, because health is already very poor, so the repentance of these people has a
lot to do with spending time with the family.

2. When dying people are asked about their regrets, what are the most common
themes they mention?

The most common regrets that wesay at the end of our lives, is "I wish I had not
worked so hard", not having time for their relatives, not having had the courage to
express their feelings and live their lives in sadness because they did not allow
themselves to be happy at think in the opinion of others, and have not spent time with
friends.

3. In the article they mentioned that happiness is a choice. What do you think
this means?

I think that it is a way which we see life. we can find happiness even when we do not
have everything that we wanted in life. It can be attitude, or motivational.

Nowadays people close in a circle or in an area of discomfort, to believe that there is

no way to be happy, seeing the positive things in everything that happens arrownd us.

B. Using the answers from part A question 2, describe how things would have
been different if they had changed their actions in each situation. Read the
example below:

Example:

Regret: They wish they hadn’t wasted time on silly arguments.

Reflection: If they hadn’t wasted time on silly arguments, they would have
enjoyed the company of others more.
Answer:

Regret: they wish they had the courage to live a truly life to them selves, and not the life
that others expected to have.

Reflection: If they had the courage to live a truly life to them selves and not to the life
others expected to have, they would have enjoyed their lives being real.

Regret: They wish they hadn't worked so hard.

Reflection: If they had not worked so hard, they would have spent much more time with
their family and would have enjoyed the blessing that is family.

Regret: they wish they had the courage to express their feelings.

Reflection: If they had had the courage to express their feelings, they would have been
happy not saving those till explode.

Regret: they wish they had kept in touch with their friends.

Reflection: If they had kept in touch with their friends, they would have shared their lives
with people who make Good to ourselves.

Regret: they wish they had been happier.

Reflection: If they had been happier, they would not have regretted their sad life, and
would have enjoyed the opportunities that life gave them.

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Note: This evidence is an individual activity. Remember to check the learning
guide in order to know if you have done all the assigned activities, know how to
develop them and deliver them correctly.

Criterios de evaluación
• Enuncia remordimientos en el contexto requerido.

• Formula consecuencias hipotéticas a cursos de acción distintos en el

pasado en el contexto requerido.