I released an article in today's
Daily Bulletin that all our members should read. No it's not about gunsmithing, or reloading, or wind-reading. It's about living life -- how to get the most out of our remaining days. I am 68, so I hopefully will have another 10 to 15 years. But one never knows. And the passing of three good friends in 2022 has made me think of what's really important.
Photo from Gunwerks Sheep Mountain L3 Mountain Shooting Course in July 2021. Register Here. Carpe Diem -- Seize the Day. Make every day count... This story is not directly about firearms, or reloading gear, or any of the little details of our sport.
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This Bulletin article explains how to predict your remaining life-span, but more importantly it offers some collective advice on how to best spend the time one has left. Below are the conclusions of older men who were surveyed. They offer wisdom that we all should take to heart.
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Living a Life with More Good Times, and Fewer Regrets
Recently, a group of men, very near the end of their lives, were surveyed. They were asked if they would
do things differently if they could live their lives over again. The vast majority of these men gave surprisingly similar responses, which fit into five “Life Lessons”. These “Top 5 Regrets of the Dying” were reported in a story by Bronnie Ware, writing for the
AARP online magazine. Ware writes: “When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced.” Here are the five regrets most often mentioned by older men:
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 realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. ”
Lesson:
Don’t wait to follow your dreams. Be true to yourself.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
“This came from every male patient [surveyed]. All of the men… deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”
Lesson:
Don’t let your work crowd out other important aspects of life.
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.”
Lesson:
Express yourself truthfully. Don’t suppress your feelings for decades.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
“There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort they deserved. Many [were] so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years.”
Lesson:
Take an interest your friends’ lives; keep bonds of friendship strong.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
“This is a surprisingly common [regret]. Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice.”
Lesson:
Affirmatively pursue the things that bring you happiness. Don’t just stick to old habits.
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And here is my personal advice for readers -- Get away from the computer, spend time with friends, enjoy nature. Don’t put off doing the things that make you happy. Call those old buddies you may not have seen in a long time. Renew friendships. Get out into nature. And start figuring out how you can live your dreams. As the saying goes, “Time waits for no man”.
