Being present for someone’s final moments is profoundly life-changing. For end-of-life nurse Laura M, who has witnessed more than 300 deaths, these experiences have revealed seven powerful lessons about life.
Laura records her patients’ final words during what she calls “the quiet hour,” and their reflections vary with the lives they’ve lived.
Love matters most
A 92-year-old WWII veteran, George, regretted holding a decades-long grudge: “I won the argument, but I lost a lifetime.” Laura learned that the dying rarely wish they’d been tougher—only kinder.
Fear steals joy
One retired engineer admitted he spent life chasing wealth out of fear of poverty: “I became rich in fear.” Because of that fear, he never enjoyed what he had.
Forgiveness brings peace
A woman insisted, “I can’t die angry.” When she forgave her estranged son, she relaxed and passed away peacefully shortly after.
Life’s beauty is simple
A CEO confessed, “I mistook being busy for being alive.” Many patients missed small, everyday things: birdsong, a dog’s breath, the smell of rain.
Regretting what you didn’t do
Most regrets came not from failures but from chances never taken. One patient said, “I didn’t regret failing—I regretted never auditioning.”
Being present
Many lamented being distracted throughout life. “I was always somewhere else—even when I was home,” one patient admitted.
Authenticity matters
Others regretted living for others’ expectations. “Finally, I’m done pretending,” one person told Laura.