Learning activity 1

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?
They wish they hadn't wasted so much time working so hard. They missed the
youth of their children and the company of their partner. This is because they
possibly have much more money for their families and for themselves and they
missed almost all the stages of their children's lives. All the men I cared about
deeply regretted spending so much of their lives in the routine of a working
existence.

2. When dying people are asked about their regrets, what are the most
common themes they mention?
to work so hard and have no time for their relatives, they regretabout have no
courage to express their feelings and live their life insadness because they didn’t
let themselves be happy by thinking inothers’ opinion, also they regret about no
stayed in touch with theirfriends.

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

I believe that being happy is a choice because it is about the way in which each
one sees life despite the circumstances, it is to see life in a way that makes you
feel better
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: I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
Reflection: If I had had a life true to myself today I would not be so unhappy

REGRET: I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

Reflection: If I hadn't worked so hard, I could have spent more time with my parents.

REGRET: I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Reflection: If I had had the courage to express my feelings, I would not have lost the girl I liked.

REGRET: I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends

Reflection: If I had kept in touch with my friends, today I would not be so alone

REGRET: I wish that I had let myself be happier

Reflection: If I had allowed myself to be happier, I would not feel so bad and so sorry
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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.