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What no-one thinks about over coffee ☕️
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Life has a way of being poetically brutal sometimes! There's something almost sacred about that first morning coffee - the quiet of dawn, the yawn of your body and thoughts rising like steam in the air. Recently, my morning thoughts have focussed on one question: "What if I only had six months to live?" You see, at my stepson's birthday celebration, my husband's ex-wife whispered some news from across the table. An old friend had been diagnosed with cancer. Six months to live. You know those moments when news settles into your body slowly, while life continues around you? That's where I found myself. On a tightrope suspended in disbelief. The shock that someone you know has been given a time-frame for life, or death, depending on how you see it. This led me to discover *Bronnie Ware's book 'Regrets of the Dying'. As a palliative care worker, she looked after patients who had gone home to die. She spent the last 3-12 weeks of their lives caring for them and hearing their last thoughts. Do you know what the most common regret was?"I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me." The most common regret - postponing our deepest desires, thinking there will always be time. This is the story of Grace: "I always told myself there would be time," she whispered. For decades, Grace had anchored herself to an unhappy marriage, convincing herself that her devotion would somehow transform her sacrifice into joy. She spoke of cities she'd never see, mountains she'd never climb, and the freedom she'd never taste – all carefully wrapped and stored away for a "someday" that never arrived. Her husband's needs had always come first, each year blending into the next as she tucked her own desires away like precious china saved for a special occasion. But life, as Grace learned too late, doesn't guarantee us tomorrow's promises. In those final conversations, her voice carried no bitterness, only a profound sadness tinged with hard-won wisdom. "I thought being selfless made me good," she confided, "but I realize now that burying your own heart alive isn't an act of love – it's a slow surrender of everything that makes life worth living." Grace's story remains with me as a gentle but urgent reminder: our time here is finite and precious. The weight of "should" and "must" can become chains that bind us to lives that are too small for our souls. Sometimes, the bravest act of love isn't staying – it's having the courage to set yourself free. Tomorrow, when your house is quiet and the coffee's brewing, consider choosing love over fear, authenticity over expectation, presence over perfection. That's what mornings are for - not just waking up to a new day, but to life itself. What whispers of the heart have you been waiting to hear? I'd love to know - just hit reply. Oh, and if you'd like to know what the other most common regrets of the dying are, read the full blog here. To coffee, to life and to blooming everyday, Lisa Marie ***** *Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Extra resources: Crafting your own identity - 5 minute speech that broke the internet Listen to Lewis Howes talk to Bronnie Ware about the book Die with a Smile - Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga ***** Whenever you are ready, here are 4 ways I can help you:
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The Hook
You won’t believe what happened next." Five words that hook you instantly. The Hook is your weekly guide to storytelling that captivates, persuades, and sells. Sign up to master the art of irresistible writing.
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