The Other One

Published on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 by Katherine

I am participating in a 30-day blog challenge. I believe I have gone insane. Today’s theme sure hit home.

The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. It’s a book I have decided I have to read. Immediately.

Written by Bronnie Ware, this Australian nurse learned much from the elderly as she cared for them during the last weeks of their lives.

When Ware asked those facing the end of their lives just what they would have changed, common themes emerged.

All five of the top themes spoke to me in volumes. The top one, however, hit me like a Mack truck.

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

Think about it. Stop, read it again and think about it.

I WISH I’D HAD THE COURAGE TO LIVE A LIFE TRUE TO MYSELF, NOT THE LIFE OTHERS EXPECTED OF ME.

I do not have to wait until my dying days to know this is my top regret so far. In my eyes, there is ME, and then there is THE OTHER ONE. The other one? The person that would really be me, if I was indeed living life true to myself.

Me: I don’t speak my mind and don’t stand up for myself.

The Other One: “You have no right to speak to me that way!” “I completely disagree and this is why.” “If you yell at me one more time I am going to kick your ass!” (NICKY, I DID IT I DID IT! I CURSED ON MY BLOG!)

Me: You don’t think I can be a stay at home mom and babysit other children for income? Oh. OK.

The Other One: I have researched everything, I have my license, I have the patience of Job and I now have four children I watch daily, giving me 500 a week. I can make this work and my children now have me full time.

Me: Everyone would freak if I got a “hearing” dog for my deaf dog, even though about a thousand people who own deaf dogs have told me it’s best.

The Other One: “Come on honey, let’s go rescue an awesome older male dog at the pound!”

Me: The boxing instructor at the gym doesn’t really teach people who haven’t done this before. I know they said I can go on in, but I won’t because I don’t want to be a burden.

The Other One: That girl in there has much smaller muscles than mine! I can not only do this well, but I can kick ASS. (NICKY, I DID IT AGAIN I DID IT AGAIN! THE “A” WORD!)

Small examples? Maybe. But in hearing about the top regret, I see I have a lifetime of things I haven’t done because others might not like it.

Let’s hear it for me having a purple streak in my hair next to my pink streak, two dogs, being a stay at home mom, politely speaking my mind when necessary, making jewelry, living in the Outer Banks, writing my book, having a different colored wall in EVERY room and getting a tattoo! WOOT!