Top Five Regrets

这篇文章是在一封forward email读到的，觉得很有意义。

Top Five Regrets

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live alife true to myself, not the life others expected of me
This was the most common regret of all. When people realize thattheir life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see howmany dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honored even ahalf of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices theyhad made, or not made. It is very important to try and honor at least some ofyour dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it istoo late. Health brings a freedom very few realize, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed theirchildren's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of thisregret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the femalepatients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regrettedspending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. Bysimplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it ispossible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating morespace in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities,ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express myfeelings
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace withothers. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never becamewho they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating tothe bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people mayinitially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in theend it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Eitherthat or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way,you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with myfriends
Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends untiltheir dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many hadbecome so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendshipsslip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not givingfriendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses theirfriends when they are dying. It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle tolet friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, thephysical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financialaffairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds thetrue importance for them. They want to get things in order more for thebenefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary toever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in theend. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did notrealize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck inold patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowedinto their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had thempretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deepwithin, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way fromyour mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long beforeyou are dying.Life is a choice. It is YOUR life.Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly.Choose happiness.

天灾的可怕

昨天在日本发生了近年来最严重的大地震，紧接着来的是可怕的海啸。很多其他的地方也随着接到海啸来袭的警号。
网络上有很多流传着很多世界末日将至的预言。我自己并没有特别的相信和不相信，若是真的话，说真的也不能做些什么。倒是看到网络上流传的日本遇难的片段，觉得很心疼。地球真的是生病了。以前念地理时，有学到地震，可是总觉得这是百年才会发生一次的事情，可是，近年来，天灾连连不断，真的是地球对人类发出的警告吗？

这次的事件让我对日本民族多了一份敬意，他们从容，临危不乱及互相扶持的精神实在是大家的好榜样。